$1,300 in Jewelry Stolen From Elderly New Haven Woman in Distraction Burglary

A woman who noticed a stranger at her neighbor's door and went to talk to him fell victim to a jewelry burglary at her own house when her home was left unlocked and unattended in New Haven, police said.

$1,300 in jewelry was stolen in the distraction burglary and police are asking residents to be on the lookout for the thieves.

A man at the door of a home in the East Rock neighborhood approached an elderly female neighbor who saw him to ask if the neighbor was home, police said. He struck up a conversation with her and said he worked for the city and was assessing trees he was tasked to cut down, walking her to the backyard, according to police. While he was chatting with her for about 10 to 20 minutes, he was also communicating with someone on his phone in Spanish.

The woman grew suspicious and went to check on her door after remembering she'd left it unlocked. By then the door was locked and the man asked her what was wrong, so she told him that the previously unlocked door was now locked. The man then began screaming over the phone in Spanish and the victim yelled for people inside to unlock the door, the woman told police.

Two men flung the door open and ran outside and all three men took off in a large, new, white Chevrolet pickup tuck with a white cap covering the bed, police said.

The resident called police to report the crime. She was not injured.

“It just seems absolutely crazy. I’ve never heard of such a thing before," Katrina Sliwa, of New Haven, said.

Police described the first man the woman spoke to as 5-foot-4 with an average build, crew cut styled hair and a clean-shaven face. He was wearing a blue T-shirt that had a logo on it. One of the men who ran from the woman's house was wearing a white shirt with an emblem on the left sleeve, a red and white cap, light blue pants or jeans and dark footwear. The other person was wearing dark short pants, likely blue, a dark blue short-sleeved shirt and possibly a white undershirt. He was wearing a dark cap.

New Haven police ask anyone who encounters people matching the description or who has information about the crime to call Det. Manuella Vensel 203-946-6304 or police at 203-946-6316 if you see them.

“It was just very strange how this woman was hoodwinked into this very, very bizarre scenario getting locked out of her own house," Laura Brown, of New Haven, said.

The burglaries are unusual, but police said they do sometimes happen, so you can heed the following precautions to prevent burglaries:

  • Report anyone suspicious or any suspicious vehicles to police and neighbors.
  • Lock doors and windows and make sure the locks are good quality.
  • You can use window casement locks or a locking pin if you want to crack the windows a little.
  • Fasten your window air conditioners to the sash and window sill.
  • Activate burglary alarms even when you're home.
  • Keep the lights on your porch on overnight.
  • Install motion sensor lights in your driveway and backyard.
  • Trim trees and shrubbery back.
  • Don't let strangers inside your home.
  • Make sure you see people's identification so you know they are who they say they are and that they work in the profession they say they do.
  • Use time lights and turn on radios and televisions to make your home look occupied.
  • Don't hide keys outside and give a spare key to a friend you trust. 
  • Don't put personal information on your key ring.
  • Arrange for your mail to be picked up while you're away.
  • Make sure your house number is visible so emergency responders can easily find it.
  • Secure your valuables in a safe spot or bank deposit box.
  • Know your neighbors.
  • Report any street lights not working or areas where tree canopies block the lights.
  • Put your phone number on your property and keep track of the serial codes.
  • Call police if you hear an alarm go off.
  • Lock up your firearms and keep them out of sight.
  • Don’t leave ladders outside your home.
  • Don't post vacation pictures on social media until after you're home and make sure you have the proper privacy settings on your accounts.
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