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Chester County Press

Burglars distract homeowner to rob residence

10/08/2014 02:58AM ● By Lev

By John Chambless

Staff Writer

Police are warning area residents to beware of a team of burglars who work together to distract homeowners while robbing their homes.

On Oct. 3 between 2:40 and 3 p.m., a home in the 100 block of Ewart Road in New Garden Township, near the Delaware state line, was approached by a white man in his 30s, who knocked on the door and asked the homeowner to show him the property line. The suspect told the elderly homeowner that he was trimming trees in the area and didn't want to cut any trees that were on the victim's property.

The homeowner told New Garden Township police that the man's conversation did not make sense and he seemed to be talking to someone else. He was speaking into a cell phone at several points. As they walked back to the house, a heavyset black man was standing in the front yard. The homeowner felt that something wasn't right and went back inside the house.

The white suspect walked to a newer model, full-size crew cab pickup truck parked at the end of the driveway. The homeowner noticed that a sheet was covering the license plate and the tailgate was down. The pickup was last seen on Ewart Road, heading to Limeseont and Kaolin roads.

The victim's wife, who is disabled, was in bed in the home and said that the black male came to her bedroom and talked to her about the TV show she was watching. Another man that the wife could not identify came to the bedroom door and motioned for the two men to leave. The victims said one item was stolen from the home, valued at about $100.

Police are asking anyone who has had similar incidents to call police. The public should contact Sgt. Keith Cowdright at 610-268-2907, ext. 102, or e-mail [email protected].