Out-Of-Town Youths Cause La Grange Problems: Police

LA GRANGE, IL – Local police are asking parents of "juveniles visiting La Grange" to speak with their children about their behavior.

On Sunday, the police department posted on Facebook about the problems that it said youths are causing in town.

The post has sparked a local debate over whether the issues are the result of local or out-of-town youths.

In the post, the police department said it is spending "excessive" time responding to the trouble.

"Juveniles (are) entering local businesses in large groups and causing disturbances, such as screaming at employees, pounding their hands against glass doors and windows, knocking items off shelves, etc.," the department said.

The police said youths are also taking part in "ding-dong ditching," where they ring doorbells and then run away.

"All of us understand that 'kids will be kids,' but some houses are being repeatedly targeted, where the kids are also looking into the windows of the homes and trespassing into backyards," the department said.

The department also said youths are hanging out in large groups at the downtown parking garage. It said it can issue tickets for loitering, loud mufflers, bid riding and skateboarding in the garage.

"We are happy to work in a town where all are welcome to enjoy their time, but we would appreciate using our limited resources for calls for service and traffic enforcement efforts," the department said.