Highland Park Officials: Vehicle Burglaries, Thefts On The Rise

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Highland Park, Highwood, Lake Forest, and Deerfield officials are strongly urging residents to take precautions to prevent vehicle burglaries and vehicle thefts following a wave of incidents in these communities and regionally.

Instances of theft and burglary to parked vehicles have increased significantly during late summer and early fall, officials warned.

Highland Park, Highwood, Lake Forest, and Deerfield have logged 94 instances of stolen vehicles during 2020, a nearly 130 percent increase over 2019, and 175 instances of theft or burglary to vehicles, an increase of over 70 percent from 2019, officials said.

The vast majority of vehicle burglaries and thefts occurred because car doors were left unlocked or keys/key fobs were left in or near the vehicle. Proximity to well-traveled highways is also associated with increased vehicular crimes.

According to officials, these instances follow a disturbing trend, typically involving criminals visiting communities at night. They look through windows for valuables that may have been left in visible spaces in unlocked cars, especially garage door openers.

Local law enforcement officials said criminals can then use this access to steal the vehicle or gain entry to the garage, which may lead to residential burglaries. Unfortunately, these stolen vehicles have often been used to commit other crimes and have put the driving public at risk when trying to avoid detection or apprehension.

There are steps residents can take to partner with local law enforcement to prevent these crimes and to deter criminals who are targeting neighborhoods, particularly those where they may have previously been successful.

Police urge residents to follow the following simple steps, known as the “9 P.M. Routine” to help prevent vehicle burglaries and thefts:

• Keep all valuables out of sight, especially garage door openers.
• Lock all doors and close all windows and sun roofs, even if parking in your garage. Ensure garage doors are closed.
• Never leave keys or key fobs in your car.

Residents are reminded that vehicle burglaries and thefts can occur at any time of day, even in public places. The 9 PM Routine precautions can help deter daytime crimes as well. Drivers are also reminded to remove keys and lock vehicles while refueling, not to leave vehicles running unattended, and to immediately call for help and report crimes.

Residents should report any suspicious activity immediately to the police by calling 911. Suspicious activity or behavior may include vehicles driving slowly and aimlessly, especially at night with lights off, and individuals loitering around parked cars and peering into windows.
For all other questions or concerns, each municipality maintains a 24-hour non-emergency public safety line:

• City of Highland Park: 847-432-7730
• City of Highwood: 847-604-8992
• City of Lake Forest: 847-234-2601
• Village of Deerfield: 847-945-8636