Residents Can Do Their Part To Combat Crime

As the July 4 holiday approaches, Lake Zurich residents are being encouraged to remain
vigilant against crime.

From May 30 until June 25, there have been 24 reports of criminal damage to
property, specifically to mailboxes at village homes. 

Police also have documented seven car burglaries. 

At least some of these crimes are avoidable, according to Lake Zurich Police Chief Patrick Finlon.

“People generally feel safe in our community, so many times they leave their valuables in plain view and don’t lock their vehicles,” Finlon said. “These crimes are
opportunistic and impulsive in many cases.”

There were a handful of cars whose windows were broken out because the owners didn't lock their doors.

Finlon suggests bringing valuables like purses and wallets, radar detectors, iPhones, laptops, GPS units and other expensive technology, in from the car. If that isn't possible, he suggests at least taking them out of plain view and securing them in the trunk so as not to entice would-be thieves.

Finlon said fortunately, stolen GPS units can work against the offender, because many times they have a setting for "home" on them.

Local pawnshops, especially those in Arlington Heights, have been vigilant when
people try to pawn GPS systems and the home address does not match the address of the individual trying to pawn it, said Finlon.

A number of offenders have been caught in years past because the pawnshops
report the matter directly to police before the person is able to leave the
shop.

The damage to mailboxes is a little less avoidable. Finlon said the offenders are mainly youths with nothing better to do, and they are usually on foot and committing the offenses later at night. 

In some instances, baseball bats or other items have been used to strike mailboxes
causing light to severe damage.

“Every summer when the weather gets nice, we identify an offender or offenders that are responsible for a spree, and they continue to do it until they get caught,”
Finlon said.

A recent ‘spree’ with the same offender or offenders is suspected to have occurred
in the early morning hours of June 21, when six mailboxes were damaged
in the 900 and 1000 blocks of Cedar Creek Drive.

When a number of offenses happen in the same area on the same day, like in that case, the numbers can be skewed when comparing them to past years, Finlon said.

“These are generally more youthful offenders, between the ages of 17 and 24,” Finlon said. “We tend to get this level of activity in the summer when people are out
more."

Compared to last year’s statistics, this year’s numbers are typical of what law
enforcement officials expect as the weather gets nicer.

In 2010, there were 17 reports of criminal damage to property taken by police, and
seven car burglaries, in all of June. 

Criminal damage to property is a misdemeanor, and Finlon said his department works to get restitution for the homeowner if the offenders are caught. Supervision and fines also are imposed.

Incarceration of up to a year and a $2,500 fine are the potential punishments for car burglary, where charges include criminal trespass.

“With burglary to vehicles, the offenders are generally driving around or there is some means of transport, and the closer we are to arterial roadways such as Rand Road or Route 22, the more activity we see,” Finlon said.

"The best thing to do is not make your car a target," Finlon said.

Residents are reminded to lock their car doors and be sure to remove valuable items from plain view in their vehicles, whether you are parked outside your home or if your car is unattended for hours as you enjoy the holiday festivities.

“Everything is a cycle, and this is part of the cycle of crime, but in some cases it can be stopped,” Finlon said.