Crime & Safety
Young Chicago Thieves Targeting Luxury Vehicles in Lake Forest: Police
Six vehicles have been stolen from Lake Forest and Lake Bluff between June 15 and July 14.
LAKE FOREST, IL—The Lake Forest Police Department issued the following warning to residents concerning a rash of stolen high-end vehicles in Lake Forest, Lake Bluff and other North Shore communities:
Lake Forest Police are urging residents to not leave car keys/key fobs in their vehicles and to lock their car doors after several cars in recent weeks have been stolen and dozens more burglarized. Evidence suggests that Lake Forest and other north shore communities are targeted by young adults from Chicago for the purpose of stealing luxury vehicles from driveways and open garages.
Between June 15th and July 14th, six vehicles have been stolen from Lake Forest and Lake Bluff. These thefts included a Lexus SUV, two Audi SUVs, Dodge Challenger, Jeep Grand Cherokee and a Porsche. Several of the vehicles have been recovered in Chicago and were returned to their owners. One of the vehicles recovered is still being held by the Chicago Police Department, due to the vehicle being used in a drive‐by shooting that resulted in a homicide.
Several juvenile suspects have been arrested by Chicago Police and, when interviewed, they admitted coming to Barrington, Highland Park, Lake Bluff and Lake Forest, from Chicago and driving around in the early morning hours looking for unlocked cars with keys in them. High‐end, foreign brand SUV’s and sports cars are their target of choice for stealing but they will search any vehicle they find unlocked in the hopes of finding keys, purses, wallets. They are not above using garage door openers found in unlocked cars to open and enter garages and homes.
Lake Forest Police again reminds all residents that these incidents are random and are often targets of opportunity for the perpetrators. Police recommend removing the opportunity by always removing car keys, purses and wallets from vehicles parked in driveways and always locking your car.
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