Suspected scam artists apparently hoping to take advantage of an 82-year-old Tinley Park man Thursday were thwarted by the man’s wife, police said.
The homeowner told police he was approached about 5:15 p.m. in the front yard of his home by a man who parked his white van in the driveway.
The man said he was trimming trees at
a neighbor’s house in the 6300 block of Kimberly Drive and might have to go into the homeowner’s back yard to complete the work, police said.
He escorted the homeowner into the back yard to show him where the work would be done, police said.
The man then returned to the front of the house, police said.
The homeowner’s 80-year-old wife told police that while her husband was in the back yard, a second man entered the house through the garage access door.
The man entered the kitchen and was caught off guard by the woman’s presence, police said.
He struck up a conversation with her, saying that he and his partner were purchasing the house behind the couple’s.
The woman then heard a third man enter the house through the garage access door. The suspected scam artist said it was his son, and then walked out of the kitchen.
The woman saw the van back out of the driveway, police said.
Nothing was taken from the house, police said.