On August 17, 2017, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Team in conjunction with the U.S. Marshals Service - Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force (USMS-GLRFTF), North Regional Major Crimes Task Force (NORTAF), Illinois State Police (ISP) Ruse Burglary Task Force, and Lake County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, apprehended Sandy Baker, 42, of the 4400 block of Spaulding Ave, Chicago. Baker had a felony arrest warrant for one count of Residential Burglary (Class 1 Felony) and one count of Theft (Class 3 Felony) - $100,000 bond.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Team obtained information indicating Baker was staying at a family residence in Chicago. Baker was apprehended by members of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Team, USMS-GLRFTF, NORTAF, and ISP Ruse Burglary Task Force Detectives.
The warrant stemmed from an investigation of a ruse burglary which occurred on June 27, 2017, in unincorporated Deerfield.
Following his arrest, Lake County Sheriff’s Detectives determined Baker was also responsible for a ruse burglary which occurred on June 20, 2017, in Long Grove. In addition to the arrest warrant, Baker was charged with an additional count Residential Burglary (Class 1 Felony) and an additional count of Theft (Class 3 Felony), for his involvement in the Long Grove ruse burglary.
A ‘ruse burglary’ is a burglary where the offenders use distraction techniques to lure homeowners outside of their residence. After the homeowner is outside and distracted, other individuals enter the home, typically targeting cash, jewelry, or other items of value. The burglars will use many excuses to lure homeowners outside, including claims of being subcontracted by local government, ploys of a broken pipe, schemes for landscaping/tree trimming services, fence-line questions, and so forth.
There are also instances when offenders will remain inside, distracting the homeowner from within the residence. Other individuals enter the home, unbeknownst to the homeowner. Senior citizens are frequently the intended target of these crimes.
Baker remains held in the Lake County Jail on $200,000.00 bail. He is next due in court on August 24, 2017 at 9:00AM in courtroom C-120.
Sheriff Mark Curran said, “Please remind your loved ones and neighbors of this type of crime. Ruse burglars appear polite and are usually well dressed, which is part of their ruse. If you didn’t make a service appointment or invite someone to your home, never let an unknown, uninvited person inside, and don’t exit your house to speak to the person.”
Sheriff Curran reminds the public the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.