String of Car Break-ins Could Be Related

are asking residents to be on alert after four possibly related car burglaries took place in the same area of town last week.

Police are cautioning residents to remove all valuables from their cars, lock the glove compartments and take even the change from the consoles of their cars.

Deputy Chief Tom Aftanas said the incidents could be related given the proximity of the incidents, the way the vehicles were broken into and the same area of the car—the glove compartment—that was searched.

All of the incidents took place between Aug. 23 and Aug. 24 and were reported to police on Aug. 24.

Here's where the incident occurred:

• The glove compartment was rummaged through but nothing appeared to be taken from a 1997 Saturn wagon parked in the rear of a home in the 400 block of Elgin Avenue. Entry was gained by shattering the driver's side window. The rest of the car was ransacked as well.
• The glove compartments were searched but nothing appeared to be taken from a 2003 Chevrolet Venture van and a 1992 Nissan Stanza both parked in the rear of a home in the 400 block of Elgin Avenue. Entry was gained by shattering the front passenger windows.
• A stick of deodorant was taken from the glove compartment and cigarettes were removed from a pack in the driver's side door of a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt parked in the rear of a home in the 400 block of Marengo Avenue. Entry was gained by shattering the front passenger window. The rest of the car was ransacked.  

Aftanas urged residents to call the police at 708-366-2425 if there is any suspicious activity or noise.