The 4th of July weekend turned out to be a boon for car burglars on the North Shore. Nearly 30 vehicles were broken into over the long weekend – despite frequent warnings from police urging residents to lock up.
In Highland Park, there were 13 car burglaries, two stolen cars and five criminal trespass incidents between June 26 and July 3.
Highland Park Deputy Police Chief Timothy Wilinski said all of the incidents occurred in unlocked cars, and that keys had been left inside the two stolen cars.
Highland Park Police Chief Paul Shafer said, “These are not forced entries. If people would lock their cars, the opportunity for these types of things would decrease. We just really need people’s cooperation and concern.” Shafer advised residents to lock their vehicles and to remove valuables.
“It is the perfect example of a crime of opportunity,” he added.
DailyNorthShore checked in with some of the other North Shore police departments.
Lake Forest Deputy Police Chief R.D. Copeland said there were about six burglary/CTMV (Criminal Trespass to a Motor Vehicle) incidents and two stolen cars between June 26 and July 3. All of the vehicles were unlocked.
“We also found two stolen cars (one from Glencoe stolen on the 28th) and one stolen from Highland Park,” he added. The keys were inside the vehicles when the cars were stolen.
Copeland explained that different areas were targeted, which include: Middle Fork subdivision, Deerpath Road, and South Greenbay/Waveland Road.
Wilmette Deputy Police Chief Kyle Murphy reported that there was only one car burglary during that time period, and it took place in a convertible with the top down.
Lake Bluff Police Chief David Belmonte said, “Fortunately, we have not had any incidents of cars entered, burglarized, or stolen during this time.”
Winnetka Interim Police Chief Marc Hornstein said there was one reported stolen car between July 3 and July 4 that was unlocked with the key inside.
“The auto burglaries and auto thefts we have historically experienced are overwhelmingly due to owners leaving their vehicles unlocked with valuables and keys left inside,” he added.
Hornstein explained that the Winnetka Police Department’s latest effort to educate the public on the importance of locking their vehicles included handing out postcard reminders at the 4th of July fireworks display that read:
• Remove Your Valuables
• Take Your Keys/FOB
• DON’T BE A VICTIM
• LOCK IT OR LOSE IT
The police chiefs from the Highwood, Lake Bluff and Lake Forest Police Departments joined forces to prevent these “crimes of opportunity,” and have been working together patrolling the residential areas as a deterrent.
The following information appeared in a press release issued by the police departments on June 26:
“The offenders in these crimes are looking for the unlocked cars,” said Lake Forest Police Chief Karl Walldorf. “They open the door, grab whatever is left in the car, and leave in under 20 seconds.” Walldorf added that these crimes are also occurring throughout the North Shore from Evanston to Lake Forest and Lake Bluff.
According to the police chiefs, “Until we can eliminate our communities as being easy targets, they will keep coming back. And the simplest and easiest way to stop it is to keep all our cars locked – every time.”
Still image from a June 2016 surveillance video of a suspect attempting to steal a car parked in a Lake Forest driveway.