Increasing Car Thefts A Concern For Bolingbrook Police

BOLINGBROOK, IL — The Bolingbrook Police Department is asking residents to be aware of auto theft and car burglaries.

Police said that within just a day, two vehicles were stolen in the village on Wednesday. The first one was stolen at 1:40 a.m. when the driver left a 2014 Nissan running and unlocked at the Shell Gas Station on 101 E. Boughton Road. The car was later located at the Speedway, 555 S. Bolingbrook Drive.

This car was found after officers responded to the Speedway for the report of another stolen car. The vehicle stolen from the Speedway, a 2018 GMC, was left running, unlocked, with the key in the ignition. The vehicle was recovered after it was involved in a traffic crash in Mokena. A juvenile was taken into custody in that incident, police said.

Chief Michael Rompa is reminding residents to take "proactive steps" and do the following to protect themselves:

• Lock your vehicle doors
• Do not leave your vehicle running with the keys in the ignition
• Consider installing a remote start system
• Do not leave valuables inside your vehicle or hide them from view
• Park in well-lit areas when possible

Car burglaries have been quite rampant in Bolingbrook since last year. Between August and September, over a period of 13 days, at least 11 vehicles were broken into. In October, six vehicles were burglarized over five days and in December, six vehicles were targeted over four days.

Bolingbrook PD Crime Prevention Officer Bobby Armstrong said in a video that it is common for people to forget about ensuring that their homes and cars are safe during this time of the year. In a haste to escape the cold and go inside, he said people are leaving their cars unlocked with valuables inside, making it easier for those passing by to steal them.

"Take the two seconds it takes, look back, make sure your car is secure, make sure your house is secure," he said. "We have to do that from time to time. It's like the fire alarms in our house. If you don't check the batteries periodically, you forget about them."