CHICAGO (WLS) — Residential burglars targeting older adults across the South and Southwest sides may be impersonating City of Chicago Water Department employees or construction workers, police warned on Saturday.

Police expanded their initial alert about the burglars, who have hit at least 16 homes in the Garfield Ridge, Brighton Park, Bridgeport, McKinley Park, Scottsdale and Armour Square neighborhoods this month.

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The suspects use several methods to enter the homes, including telling a victim that they hit their garage door with a vehicle, claiming to be City of Chicago Water Department employees or construction workers, and waiting for a victim to leave, like when they take their trash out.

The burglars, who communicate with each other with handheld radios, have also targeted homes while the victims were out.

The thieves have stolen items such as firearms, money and valuables.

The burglaries have happened at the following times and locations:

  • 4700-block of South Lawler Ave. on Aug. 5 at 1:22 p.m.


  • 3600-block of South Maplewood Ave. on Aug. 5 at 4:38 p.m.


  • 4200-block of South California Ave. on Aug. 8 at 3:10 p.m.


  • 2800-block of South Pitney Ct. on Aug. 9 at 5 p.m.


  • 5800-block of South Nottingham Ave. on Aug. 10 between 12:30 p.m. and 5:15 p.m.


  • 3300-block of South Seeley Ave. on Aug. 10 at 1:43 p.m.


  • 8500-block of South Kolin Ave. on Aug.11 at 12:40 p.m.


  • 2600-block of South Shields Ave. on Aug. 14 at 10 p.m.


  • 2800-block of South Wallace St. on Aug. 18 at 2:05 p.m.


  • 3400-block of South Wallace St. on Aug. 18 at 6:05 p.m.


  • 5400-block of South Natoma Ave. on Aug. 19 at 9:30 a.m.


  • 1700-block of West 34th St. on Aug. 19 between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.


  • 5100-block of South Lockwood Ave. on Aug. 19 at 2 p.m.


  • 3600-block of South Emerald Ave. on Aug. 21 between 7 a.m. and 9:20 p.m.


  • 8600-block of South Keating Ave. on Aug. 23 at 1:45 p.m.


  • 5000-block of South Kilpatrick Ave. on Aug. 23 at 2:30 p.m.

The suspects have been described as two females and four males who use a white van, a gray 2023 Chevrolet Colorado without license plates, a black Chevrolet Traverse with custom white rims or a white pickup truck.

One of the female suspects is about 5 feet tall and 120 pounds with brown eyes, and short, black hair.

The other female suspect is about 5-foot-3 with hazel eyes.

One of the male suspects is about 5-foot-4 to 5-foot-7, around 140 pounds and between 20 and 25 years old. He wears a beige baseball cap, a white face mask, an orange and yellow vest, a light green shirt and blue pants.

The second male suspect is about 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-8, 175-180 pounds and between 48 and 58 years old. He has short, gray hair and wears a black baseball hat with a red “B” on the front, white glasses, black mask, white shirt and white pants.

The third male suspect wears an American flag ski mask a white t-shirt, black pants and black boots.

The fourth male suspect wears a gray shirt and blue jeans.

Police asked anyone with information to contact Area One detectives at 312-747-8380 or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com and use reference #P25-1-092B.

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