05/03/2021
UPDATE: The last remaining suspect in this Distraction Burglary investigation we posted in August, 2020 has been sentenced through Honorable Judge Vincent A. Culotta's court.
On April 26, 2021, 29 year-old Rudy Miller, from Chicago was sentenced to a minimum of 16 years and maximum of 19 years in prison on the following charges: 2 counts of Burglary (second degree Felony's), Failure to Comply with an Order or Signal of a Police Officer (third degree Felony), and Attempted Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity (second degree Felony).
Great work by all of the law enforcement agencies involved that helped to recover all of the stolen property, including the $10,000 in cash for an elderly Pennsylvania victim. See the original posting below for further details on the case.
Lt. Larry Harpster
Detective Bureau Commander
PRESS RELEASE …. August 11, 2020
DISTRACTION BURGLARIES
Three individuals have been arrested for Burglary and Complicity to Commit Burglary. Rudy Miller (DOB 4-30-91), Rocky Mason (DOB 11-5-91) and Apple Miller (DOB 5-6-94) are in the Lake County Adult Detention Facility awaiting arraignment which is scheduled for tomorrow. All three persons are from the Chicago area.
LCSO Detective Bureau Commander Lt. Larry Harpster reports that on Sunday, August 9, 2020 at 1:45 p.m., the Lake County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to Girdled Road in Concord Township for a report of a distraction burglary. The 73-year old homeowner indicated a black sedan, possibly a Dodge, pulled into the driveway as the resident was working in her yard. Two males exited the vehicle and claimed there had been a water main break in the area. One male was described as a shorter, stocky build Hispanic-looking male wearing a reflective safety vest. The second male was described as thinner male who also had a darker complexion and was Hispanic-looking. The thinner male began talking to the resident while the heavier male began walking to the door of the residence. Despite the resident’s verbal refusal to allow him into the residence, the heavier male entered the home while the thinner male distracted the homeowner by arguing with her. Eventually the resident entered the home and found the heavier male walking throughout her home. The males then left the home and area in the black sedan. The resident found that a charm bracelet was missing from her jewelry box.
On the same date, at 2:31 p.m., a second distraction burglary was reported to this agency at Carter Road in Leroy Township. On this incident, a 90-year old resident was met at his front door by two males with the same description as the Girdled Road incident. The males walked into the unlocked door without being permitted claiming there was a water issue in the area and they began walking through the home. The resident followed the males and then ordered the males out of the home or he would contact the police. The males then left the residence and area in what was described as a black sports car. Nothing had been stolen during this incident.
Just a short time later, Deputies were called to 13165 Carter Road in Leroy Township. The residents here stated two Hispanic-looking males arrived at their home in a black Dodge. The younger looking male met them at their door and claimed he was there inquiring about the Buick they had for sale, however the resident did not own a Buick. The heavier-build male remained in the driver’s seat of the vehicle but told the resident that he had done some roof work at this home, which was also not true. The males were not permitted into the home and left the area.
The Pennsylvania State Police also reported a similar distraction burglary with two males with the same description driving a black Dodge with an out-of-state temporary registration. In this case, the males talked their way into the home of an elderly resident and stole a floor safe containing nearly $10,000 in cash along with other items.
Shortly after 6:00p.m., the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office reported a similar distraction burglary where two males with similar descriptions in a black Dodge 2-door claimed to be from the water company and made entry into their home. Over $6,000 worth of jewelry was stolen from this home. The vehicle left the area on Route 90 westbound.
At 6:20 p.m., Madison Township Police located the suspect vehicle, a black 2012 Dodge Challenger with an Indiana temporary registration. Madison Township Police called for assistance and followed the suspect vehicle to the BP at Vrooman Road. Once the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Ohio State Highway Patrol arrived, the suspect vehicle fled, almost striking a Sheriff’s Office cruiser. A pursuit ensued westbound on Route 90. Mentor Police Department deployed spikes near the Route 615 exit. The suspect vehicle continued to flee at a high rate of speed and police lost sight of it near the Route 615 exit from Interstate 90.
A short time later, an Uber driver said he was called to Garfield Park in Mentor to pick up two males and a female. The Uber driver arrived and picked up the three individuals from a black Dodge Challenger. Unbeknownst to the three suspects, the Uber driver had been scanning police channels and heard a pursuit with a black Dodge. The Uber driver took the three whom he described as being of Hispanic descent and dropped them off near the Holiday Inn on Route 306 after refusing their offer of $500 to drive them to Chicago, Illinois. The Uber driver remained in the area and called 911 to report this.
All three occupants of the Dodge Challenger were detained, and the Dodge was impounded. Evidence to several of these cases was later located within the vehicle, including the safe, currency and jewelry. The three occupants were booked in to the Lake County Jail and are awaiting arraignment on Burglary and Complicity to Commit Burglary charges, along with criminal and traffic charges relating to the pursuit for the vehicle driver. Similar cases from multiple counties across northern Ohio and Pennsylvania are being investigated.
