March 27, 2007,4:32 PM
Officers were sent to 3531 S. Elmwood to meet a man who wanted entry to the house. There they found Georgia resident Joseph Sisto, 46, who told them an unusual story. He said on Sunday the 25th, his estranged brother Michael Sisto, 43, had called to inform him of their father John’s death. Joseph was concerned and asked Berwyn police to do a well-being check to confirm this. Police contacted Michael, who said that the father – owner of 3531 S. Elmwood – had been ill and stayed with Michael at his Hoffman Estates home, where the father grew worse and finally died. The brothers had been estranged for some time. Joseph had tried to call Michael back several times since Sunday with no result, so he flew to Illinois and called an attorney. He sought and received a court order to enter the Elmwood house so that he could secure and inventory property there.
A woman neighbor Joseph had known a long time accompanied him to the attic of the house to assist with the inventory. The responding officer noticed the house was filled with antiques and artifacts that appeared to be valuable. When Joseph returned from the attic, he told the officer he needed police protection, and that several items in the attic did not belong to his father, his brother or to him.
Joseph told police his father, John Sisto, was an Italian immigrant who had access to ancient Italian artifacts and was able to smuggle them into the US by cargo ship. He related that in the early 1970s, John Sisto was arrested by the Italian government and detained for three months for illegally obtaining and exporting such items.
Joseph produced documents from the attic explaining the significance of some of the objects, which he believes are stolen and priceless. The officer observed the entire attic was full of documents, paintings and artifacts Joseph stated were worth millions. He led the officer to the basement, which was filled with the same sorts of things. Joseph then stated he needed an alarm company to wire the premises to the police station, and he contacted Brinks security. The scene was secured and officers posted at the front and rear of the house until the situation is resolved.
