Mayor: 24-Hour Stores Need Better Safety

NEW LENOX, IL -One of the most dangerous jobs around New Lenox has been working the overnight shift at one of the village's 24-hour businesses. Since August, robbers carrying guns have bounced from Will County town to town, often stopping in New Lenox, to rob the 7-Eleven and Speedway gas station along Route 30. So far, none of the overnight store clerks have been injured or killed. Mayor Tim Baldermann wants to make sure it stays that way.

The New Lenox mayor, who is a retired chief from the Chicago Ridge Police Department, recently took to social media to post alert people that he is trying to improve the safety for workers employed at his village's 24-hour businesses, given the volume of armed robberies taking place.

"As promised, the police administration and I met with representatives from our 24-hour businesses to discuss additional safety measures that will taken. Aside from additional law enforcement measures that will be taken, I will present (the village) board with an ordinance that will require 24-hour businesses to install buzzer entry doors that are in use from the hours of 11 p.m. until 5 a.m.," the mayor posted on Facebook.

Also, Baldermann explained that his plan calls for working video surveillance cameras and maintained lighting in the parking lots for these businesses. In the recent armed robberies in New Lenox, two men have entered the overnight store, one showed a gun and a third person, their getaway driver, remained outside.

So far, there have been no arrests in any of the recent late night New Lenox armed robberies.

"These measures won't be very costly but could save a life ..." Mayor Baldermann noted.

Image via New Lenox Police Department