Darien Car Burglaries: Over 90% Unlocked

DARIEN, IL — Darien officials said this week that more than 90 percent of cars that were burglarized in town were unlocked. Darien's police chief said many people, including those close to him, get comfortable and don't bother locking their cars.

"My son lives fairly close to me. He doesn't lock his work truck. He had his laptop taken out of it," Chief Greg Thomas said at this week's City Council meeting. "I've had frequent discussions (with another person) who likes the key hidden, which really isn't hidden. It's on top of the refrigerator in the garage."

The easiest solution to preventing car burglaries, the chief said, is to lock cars.

"It's easy to forget about it. People think they don't have anything worth stealing," Thomas said. "People come in from the city, usually in a stolen car. They let people out. The car drives to the other end of the block while people try to find any car that is open. They go in the glove box and console. They're looking for a fob or a key. They want to steal a car. If they don't steal the car, they steal change."

Most car burglaries, Thomas said, involve the theft of less than $20 in merchandise.