Man Allegedly Posed As Utility Worker To Steal Elderly Woman's Jewelry

PALOS PARK, Ill. (STMW) -- A southwest suburban man has been charged with allegedly stealing jewelry from an elderly woman during a January ruse burglary near Palos Park.

Sonny Miller, dressed in a white hard hat and carrying a tan shoulder bag, knocked on the door of a home in the 1200 block of Newport Drive in an unincorporated area near Palos Park about 12:40 p.m. Jan. 30 and yelled at the elderly resident who answered the door that there was an electrical emergency in the area, according to a release from the Cook County Sheriff's office.

Miller, 43, of Oak Lawn, said he needed to check the outlets and the 87-year-old woman let him inside, the sheriff's office said. Miller told the woman to turn the appliances and lights on and off for about 15 minutes.

Then the doorbell rang and the Miller told the elderly woman that was his partner and he had to leave, the sheriff's office said.

The woman later discovered her dresser drawers had been opened, and costume jewelry was missing, according to the sheriff's office.

Police identified Miller as a suspect and the Illinois State Police Ruse Burglary Task Force arrested Miller during a March 1 traffic stop in Oak Lawn, the sheriff's office said.

Miller was charged with one count of residential burglary and ordered held on $50,000 bond Sunday, according to the sheriff's office.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)