Suburban Men Pose as Construction Workers to Rob Elderly Woman in Bridgeport
Two suburban men are facing charges after allegedly using a deceptive tactic to steal money and jewelry from an elderly woman’s home in Bridgeport. Sammy Mealka, 33, of Palos Heights, and Stanley Ely, 48, also of Palos Heights, are accused of orchestrating a burglary under the guise of construction work.
According to prosecutors, on January 8, Mealka knocked on the door of an 88-year-old woman in the 3600 block of South Lowe. He claimed to be working on construction next door and requested access to the woman’s backyard. As Mealka engaged the woman in conversation, Ely entered the home and stole approximately $1,000 in cash, jewelry, and other items from the bedroom.
The woman became suspicious of Mealka’s behavior and eventually asked him to leave. It was only after he departed that she discovered the burglary and contacted the police. Ring doorbell footage confirmed the sequence of events, showing Mealka arriving in a 2022 Chevrolet Equinox and Ely entering the home shortly after.
An astute Skokie police detective, familiar with Mealka’s previous criminal activities, provided critical information to Chicago investigators. He noted that Mealka had a habit of covering his license plate at gas stations before committing crimes. This information led to the identification of the suspects and their vehicle through surveillance footage.
Both Mealka and Ely are charged with residential burglary. While Ely was ordered to remain in custody pending trial due to his history of similar offenses, Mealka was released on electronic monitoring by Judge Deidre Dyer.
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