Good things happen when you see suspicious activity and call 911.

The Aurora Police Department secured two counts of burglary through the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office on a 17-year-old boy after officers responded to the Alschuler Subdivision when someone called 911 to report several people pulling on door handles.

The call was placed around 2 a.m. Saturday, June 9.

“When we got into the area we learned two boys, including the 17-year-old, and two girls, were looking for unlocked vehicles to burglarize,” Aurora Police Department spokesperson Dan Ferrelli said on the department’s Facebook page. “When the offenders saw the officers, they all ran.”

All but one was taken into custody without incident.

The 17-year-old was charged after proceeds from two burglaries in the 200 block of Alschuler were found in his possession. The two girls, ages 14 and 15, were charged with curfew violations. All three were released to their parents.

Ferrelli said police believe they know the identity of the other boy.

How to Keep Safe

The Kane County Sheriff’s Office and police departments throughout Kane County issue a lot of car-burglary reminders this time of year.

“Please lock your car doors and conceal valuables due to recent burglaries from unlocked vehicles in the Tri-Cities,” the Geneva Police Department says.

“The majority of these incidents are crimes of opportunity,” said Geneva Police Chief Eric Passarelli. “It only takes a minute to enter an unlocked car and to remove valuables from inside. Please assist us by securing your vehicles.”

Also common as the weather gets nicer are the “smash and grab” vehicle burglaries. In those cases — which happen often at community events, swimming pools, health clubs, shopping malls or any place a lot of cars are parked — burglars smash the windows of vehicles, grab items of value that are in plain sight, and hightail it. GPS devices, cell phones, tablets and laptops, purses and shopping bags are among the items often stolen.

So the rules of thumb to prevent vehicle burglaries are:

(1) Always lock your vehicle.

(2) Don’t leave valuables in your vehicle.

(3) If you must leave valuables in your vehicle, make sure they are not in plain sight. Put them in the trunk or stow them under a car seat, where they won’t spark a young criminal’s fancy.

Anyone who sees suspicious persons or activities occurring in their neighborhoods should call 911. If you’re reporting a car burglary that’s not in progress, the best practice is to call your local law-enforcement agency’s non-emergency number.

Read More

• Police: 92% Car Burglaries Through Unlocked Doors
• Rash of Car Burglaries Serves as Reminder to Lock Your Vehicles
• 5 Moms Victims in ‘Brazen’ Daycare Center Car-Burglary Spree