WILMETTE – A string of overnight home burglaries occurred in Wilmette between August 29 and September 4, prompting the Wilmette Police Department to caution residents to lock up at night.
Sometime during the late night and early morning, three residences located in East and West Wilmette were broken into while residents were sleeping. Two purses and one wallet were stolen. None of the residents woke up during the burglaries, according to Deputy Chief Pat Collins of the Wilmette Police Department.
In the wee hours of September 3 and September 4, on the 800 block of Ramona Road, an unknown offender entered a home through an unlocked garage door that led to the kitchen. Deputy Collins told DailyNorthShore in an email dated September 13 that the resident woke up and found several doors open that were closed prior to going to bed. A purse was stolen.
On the 800 block of Redbud Lane between September 3 and September 4 a burglar entered through a second floor sliding door, according to a police department Crime Alert dated September 8. The police suspect the offender climbed on a barbecue to reach the second floor balcony. A purse was stolen.
Between August 29 and August 30 a burglar cut the screen of an open window near a door of a residence on the 500 block of Forest Avenue. The offender took a purse that was in the kitchen alcove, which may have been visible from an open window, according to the Crime Alert.
While each of these crimes involved a quick grab of one item, some burglars will target and rifle through a house and even go into the bedrooms, according to Deputy Collins. “Others want to get in and out fast with the targeted items and will often not go beyond the kitchen area, if (entering) through the backdoor,” Deputy Collins wrote. In some instances, items are left in plain view on a counter and easy to grab, he added.
At this point, the crimes are still under investigation and the police do not know whether the same offender committed each of these crimes. Deputy Collins noted that each of the crimes were slightly different.
Crimes of this nature are considered crimes of opportunity, since the offenders are looking for unlocked doors or windows to gain access and take targeted items that are easily visible, according to Deputy Collins. The offenders try to keep the noise down so as not to wake residents, he noted.
While overnight residential home burglaries are rare in Wilmette, the Wilmette Police Department is advising residents to always make sure doors and windows are locked, even on the second floor. If a window is left open at night, be sure to use a rod or lock bar to prevent the window from being opened further. Residents should activate exterior lights with motion detectors and home alarm systems if they have them.