CPD Arrests 2 Men in Connection With Burglaries in Parkview, Mt. Greenwood

Released by CPD at 2:22 p.m. today:

Joint Investigation Results in the Apprehension of Two Men for Residential Burglaries

Offenders linked to deceptive practice scams & ruses targeting elderly victims

CHICAGO – The Chicago Police Department (CPD), working in conjunction with the Illinois State Police (ISP) Ruse Burglary Task Force, arrested two men in connection to several ruse burglaries in the Chicago Lawn and Mt. Greenwood neighborhoods, all of which targeted elderly residents.

On March 20^th, 2014, CPD and ISP officers observed Michael Rivera, 49, of the 6500

Michael Rivera

block of South Keating Ave., and John Miller, 32, of the 400 block 165^th Street in Hammond, Indiana, commit a residential burglary on the 3700 block of West 87^th Street (in the city's Parkview neighborhood) at approx. 10:45 am. During this incident, Miller knocked on an elderly female victim’s door, claiming to be a public employee, and distracted her while Rivera entered the victim’s residence unnoticed and stole cash. Both Rivera and Miller were arrested shortly after they left the residence and the stolen cash was returned to the victim.

John Miller

Further investigation by the arresting officers revealed that the offenders’ methods and physical descriptions matched those of other offenders who were being sought in similar ruse/burglary incidents that also targeted elderly residents and had been reported in other neighborhoods throughout the city, some of which had been the subject of a Community Alert issued in the 22^nd (Morgan Park) District by the Chicago Police on March 13, 2014.

As a result, Miller and Rivera were linked to three additional burglaries, two in the Mt. Greenwood neighborhood and another in Chicago Lawn. Rivera is facing two felony counts of Residential Burglary and three felony counts of False Personation of a Public Employee. Miller faces two felony counts of Residential Burglary and one felony count of False Personation of a Public Employee.

Both offenders appeared in Central Bond Court at 2600 S. California on March 21, 2014. 

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