Crime & Safety

Update: Police Make Arrest in Deerfield Scams

22-year-old charged with criminal damage to property.

Deerfield Police arrested Tom Miller, 22, of Mount Prospect May 13 in connection to a scam committed last week.

According to authorities, a 90-year-old Deerfield resident was conned out of $2,200 back on May 10. That’s when the victim told officers he had been approached by a group of people who offered to clean the marks on his garage floor for $22. However, when the work was finished, the elderly man said the men charged $2,200 instead. The victim told police, one of the suspects identified himself as Tom Miller.

When officers visited the home on Hermitage Road they say “there were many cracks on the floor which appeared to have been speckled [with cement] but definitely not repaired.”

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Miller was arrested and charged with criminal damage to property.

Last week authorities warned local residents of scam artists possibly targeting the Deerfield area. Officers say this is the second incident they’ve had to deal with in the past twelve months. 

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-Previous article on May 13-

Police are warning local residents to watch out for scam artists possibly targeting the Deerfield community.

According to Commander of Investigations Walter Trillhaase an elderly Deerfield man was conned out of thousands of dollars earlier this week.

“They’re bad people picking on the older folks,” Trillhaase explained.

A local victim told authorities he was approached in front of his home by a group of individuals who offered to clean the markings off his garage floor for $22. However, when the work was completed the suspects demanded $2,200. Authorities say the resident felt pressured into writing the check, which was quickly cashed by the thieves.

Officials tell Patch this is the second incident they’ve dealt with in the past 12 months and that some of the scam artists cruise communities like Deerfield searching for elderly people outside their homes.

Police say spring and summer are active times for scams that commonly include home repair fraud and ruse entry burglary.

“It’s not something we can sit and wait for,” Trillhaase said which is why Deerfield Police have been handing out flyers to alert residents about the situation.

The flyer describes the scammers as "individuals of Gypsy culture who have elected to live a criminal lifestyle" and explains that "the appearance of a Gypsy can be generally described as medium to dark complexioned Caucasian, who are often mistaken as Hispanic."

Patrols are also being increased in residential neighborhoods.

Police are encouraging residents not to allow unknown individuals perform work on their residences before checking that person’s reputation. Authorities also warn residents not to allow anyone into their homes or let them roam their property.   


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