Forest Preserve Rolls Out 'Put Your Junk In The Trunk' Campaign

Put your junk in the trunk!

That’s the playful but important message behind the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s new campaign to help stop vehicle break-ins.

The "Put Your Junk in the Trunk" campaign features a humorous country music video where a couple pulls into a preserve in a 1949 Chevy and stashes all their valuables — cash, gold bars, even the Mona Lisa — before hitting the trails. A would-be thief armed with a hammer sneaks up but finds nothing to steal. The message? Don’t leave purses, wallets or electronics in plain sight.

“This goes for anywhere, not just the forest preserves,” said Deputy Police Chief David Barrios Jr. “Our officers check on vehicles and try to educate people, but we can’t be everywhere. A criminal looks for an easy score, and valuables left out are an open invitation.”

The “Junk in Your Trunk” campaign includes educational signs at preserves and a summer social media push to raise awareness about these crimes of opportunity.

“People are more likely to remember the video because it’s fun and over-the-top,” Barrios said. “But at the end of the day, we want people to think ahead and protect themselves.”
Here’s how to help prevent theft:

• Stash your stuff — or better yet, leave it at home.
• Stay alert and aware of your surroundings.
• Report suspicious activity right away.
• Be a good witness: Get a description, location, direction of travel and license plate number if possible.
• Always carry your cell phone, and add the Forest Preserve’s non-emergency dispatch number to your phone: 815-727-6191, option 9. In an emergency, call 911.

Enjoy the preserves, but don’t make it easy for thieves. Put your junk in the trunk!