Rolling Meadows police said they're looking for a man suspected of preying on elderly homeowners.
Police say Stanley Miller twice tried to talk his way inside the home of an elderly person on Sunday.
Joan Koss said a man knocked on her door and offered to do some chimney work, saying he was affiliated with some workers down the street.
"He says they're doing some work and I have to pay them today. And that's when I thought, 'Hmm, I'm gonna check with my neighbors,'" Koss said.
Police say Miller then went to a third home in the 2400 block of Central Road, and forced his way through the screen door after the 86-year-old woman wouldn't let him in. The suspect allegedly assaulted the homeowner in the kitchen before fleeing.
"He kept going, although he failed, he kept going until he was able to victimize somebody, and that's why we want the public to know we know who we are looking for," Sgt. Tom Gadomoski said.
Police say the victim suffered minor injuries in the attack and was able to identify Miller from a series of photos.
Miller is 32 years old, and is believed to have recently lived in an apartment in nearby Arlington Heights where his car was found Sunday.
Miller is currently on probation. He was arrested, along with his wife, in 2009 for allegedly breaking into a building an leaving their three children outside in a car.
The close-knit neighbors are now looking out for each other more than ever.
"We better lock our doors," neighbor Teri Gathercoal said. "It' scary, very scary, 'cause like I said, it's a quiet neighborhood."
"It's very concerning. What type of person would do this? It's horrible," neighbor Austin Portillo said.
A reward is being offered for an arrest in the case. Anyone with information is asked to call the Rolling Meadows Police Department at (847) 255-2416.
