Men posing as utility workers restrain woman in Indiana home invasion
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Authorities in northwest Indiana were searching for two men wanted in connection with a home invasion on Tuesday in southern Lake County.
Lake County Sheriff's police said two men dressed as NIPSCO utility workers forced their way into a woman's home in the Lake Dalecarlia area on Tuesday, tied her up, and ransacked the house.
Police had only a vague description of the two men, who are believed to have been driving a yellow rental van with a Penske logo.
The owner of the home told CBS 2 that the victim in the case was doing well but was rattled by what happened. The incident left many questioning the security in the area.
When CBS 2 was at the scene on Wednesday, a neighbor called police on a utility contractor who was working in the area. It turned out to be a false alarm.
Still, residents said they're more vigilant than ever.
"My kids are not gonna be answering the door if I'm not home, that's for sure," said Donna Weeks, a neighbor. "And we're gonna be locking the door from now on because, like I said, it's one of those neighborhoods where you just, you know, you leave the garage door open and you go for a drive for a quick and you come back and garage still [open], I mean, we just don't have problems like that here."
Anyone with information on home invasion is asked to call the Lake County Sheriff's crime hotline at 1-800-750-2746. Anonymous tips can be texted to the sheriff's Tip411 platform by texting the keyword LSCO and the tip to 847411.
Police said NIPSCO officials are aware of scammers posing as utility workers, and anyone who has questions about people claiming to work for NIPSCO should call the company at 1-800-464-7726.
NIPSCO urged customers to be on high alert and said a representative would never go door to door asking for payment. The company said customers can ask workers for a proof of ID and to make sure they see official logos on company vehicles. If they weren't expecting a visit from workers, customers should just call police.