Police Ask Residents to Lock Car Doors to Prevent Burglaries

The Naperville Police Department has a simple tip for those who have been a victim of car burglaries and those who want to avoid becoming one.

Lock your doors.

As temperatures rise each summer, so do the number of motor vehicle burglaries committed in town, Naperville police said. In fact, burglary to a motor vehicle is one of the most common crimes in Naperville and occurs when someone unlawfully enters a vehicle to commit a theft.

This felony offense occurs throughout all of the city and surrounding areas, but it is also one of the easiest crimes to prevent. Statistics show that over the past two years nearly 90 percent of the motor vehicles burglarized in Naperville were unlocked.

With that information in mind, this summer, the Naperville Police Department is asking those who live, work and visit Naperville to “Lock it or Lose It.” By increasing awareness of this simple, proactive step anyone can take, police hope to save motorists the hassle and pain of being victimized in this manner and significantly reduce the number of burglaries in Naperville this year.

“There is no cure-all for criminal activity, and even a town with as outstanding of a reputation as Naperville has some crime. We have to work together to prevent it,” said Naperville Police Chief Robert Marshall. “With this campaign, we hope to remind residents and visitors that the simple act of locking your car will undoubtedly decrease the odds of you becoming a victim of motor vehicle burglary.”