UPDATE: Geneva Warns Area Residents of Multiple Vehicle Burglaries
Geneva Police Remind Residents To Lock Their Cars
Tuesday, Nov. 21
During the past month, several communities in the Fox Valley area have seen an increase in thefts and burglaries from vehicles. In an effort to remain proactive in dealing with criminal activity, the Geneva Police Department is urging residents to lock their car doors.
The offenders are entering primarily unlocked cars, taking valuables and even the car itself if keys are left inside. These stolen cars have subsequently been used to commit crimes in other communities. The majority of these incidents are crimes of opportunity and are preventable with assistance from residents.
The Police Department encourages people to report all suspicious activity to authorities immediately. The information may be the key to solving a crime in Geneva.
To make property less of a target for criminals, people should lock their cars and remove valuables (i.e. computers, iPods, purses, keys, etc.) from vehicles at night. Residents also should check that their garage door is closed, windows are secured, and access doors to the garage and home are locked.
Outdoor lighting may act as a deterrent in some cases since many of these car burglaries have occurred at night.
The Geneva Police Department thanks residents for their cooperation in keeping Geneva a safe community.
St. Charles Police Warn of Vehicle Buglaries
Thursday, Nov. 16
St. Charles police are warning area residents about a rash of recent vehicle burglaries they believe could have regional public-safety ramifications.
According to a Wednesday news release, subdivisions in the Northeast side of St Charles were targeted from Sunday, Nov. 12, to Monday morning, Nov. 13.
All of the victim’s vehicles that were entered had been left unlocked, police said.
“We would like to remind all residents to keep vehicles locked and garage doors closed,” Officer James Burden said in the news release. “An unlocked vehicle in the driveway could provide access to a garage door opener in the car that can then grant access into your attached garage, and possibly even your actual residence through an interior door.
“Our investigation shows that the offender(s) are also looking to steal cars that are left with the keys in them. The cars are then used to commit crimes in other jurisdictions.”
Police are asking anyone with information about these vehicle burglaries to call the Police Department at 630-377-4435.
SOURCE: city of St. Charles news release
