Thieves Target Elderly In City Park North Neighborhood

DENVER (CBS4)- Police in Denver are investigating more burglary cases in the City Park North neighborhood where the criminals are targeting the elderly. They believe the crimes may be related.

There are three recent cases, two burglaries on Friday and one on Thursday.

In the first case, the suspect contacted the victim and said there was a problem with some work being done on the house behind hers. The suspect asked the victim to come outside into the backyard.

While the victim and suspect were outside a second suspect entered the home and searched for valuables. The suspect that entered the home is described as a white or Hispanic male in his 30s, medium build, clean shaven and wearing a baseball cap and a blue shirt.

In the second case, the first suspect contacted the elderly victim and said there was a problem with the power line behind her home causing a neighbor to lose power. The suspect asked the victim to come out into her yard and distracted her while a second suspect entered the home but cutting the screen on the victim's security door. Once inside the suspect took several items belonging to the victim.

In the third case, a 92-year-old man was lured away from his front door into the backyard by a suspect stating that he needed to measure his yard. When the man returned inside his home he discovered the burglary in which cash and coins were stolen.

The suspect who contacted the victim is described as a white man, 30-49 years old, 5-foot-10, 175 pounds with short hair, clean shaven wearing a blue sports jersey, blue jeans and a baseball cap.

"We think there are possibly three to five cases. We don't want to say that they're all linked but there are some strong similarities in all the cases. We're looking at them as potentially being linked but at the same time we're looking at them individually just to be careful," said Denver Police Department spokesman Sonny Jackson.

The Denver Police Department has seen several cases of crimes against the elderly. Officers are asking that everyone be on the lookout for elderly community members, neighbors, friends and family members so they are not victimized.

The Denver Police Department is asking for the community's assistance in locating and identifying this suspect. Anyone with information regarding this crime, please contact Denver Police Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867) where you can remain anonymous. Text to CRIMES (274637) and title DMCS and enter your message or go to the website at metro-denvercrimestoppers.com. If the information you provide leads to the arrest and charging of a wanted individual, you can receive a cash reward up to $2,000.

Denver Police offer this advice to homeowners to protect themselves from thieves:

• Don't be afraid to be rude. You are not obligated to open the door for anyone you don't know.

• Don't open the door to anyone before you've checked who it is – look out of the window or use a spy hole in your door.

• If you open the door, keep the chain on while you find out who is calling and what they want.

• If you're not expecting someone and you don't know them, don't let them into your home, no matter what they say to you. If a caller is legitimate they will understand your concerns.

• If someone claims to be from a company, such as a gas or electricity provider, always double check their identity – see the section below for tips on how to do that properly.

• If someone is asking for a favor, such as to use your bathroom, borrow a pen or retrieve a ball, don't let them in. Instead direct them to a shop, office or public place.

• It's only natural to want to help someone, but sadly that's one of the techniques often used by distraction burglars.

• If you have any concerns about someone who has called at your door, call police immediately.

• If you have a chance try to note what they look like and any vehicle they have with them, so police can investigate.