Lemont Police: Residents Should Be On Alert Following Possible Attempted Daytime Residential Burglary

Editor's note: Following is a press release issued by the Lemont Police Department.

On Wednesday, Dec. 5 between 10 a.m. and 3:15 p.m., the Lemont Police Department investigated what may be an attempted daytime residential burglary in the area of Abbey Oaks.

Fortunately, no entry was made to the home, but with our struggling economy and the holidays rapidly approaching, there are crooks out there looking to take advantage of honest citizens.

Lemont Police Department would like to offer the following tips for preventing residential burglaries over the holiday season:

• If you are out of your home during the day for work, school or errands, please utilize an alarm system, if you have one. Even having fake alarm signs and decals can reduce the odds of a break in by as much as 50 percent.
• Pet dogs are a good deterrent to have in your residence. If you don’t own a dog, you can post a "Beware of Dog" sign to help deter a burglar.
• Make sure you lock your doors and windows when you leave, even if only for a few minutes. Don’t forget to lock the door between the house and attached garage.
• Don’t display gifts where they can be easily seen from your windows or doors.
• Leave a TV or radio on to make it sound like someone is inside your residence.
• Keep shrubs and plants low, so possible points of entry are not concealed do not conceal thieves trying to break in.
• If you go away on vacation, have a neighbor you trust check on your home. Ask them to shovel snow and take in any mail, newspapers and deliveries and to park in your driveway to give the appearance you are there. If you leave for vacation, use an automatic timer for your lights and radio.
• Don't advertise that you are away on social media sites such as Facebook. Utilize Lemont Police Department's Vacation Watch program. (Sign up for a watch for up to two weeks at the kiosk in our lobby.)
• If you are home and someone comes to your door to deliver a package or looking for a donation, ask for official identification through the locked door, using the peep hole or side light. You can call to verify their identity by using a number you get through the phonebook or 411, not one they offer you. Contact Lemont Police if you are suspicious and need assistance in checking them out.
• A strong Neighborhood Watch can assist in preventing daytime burglaries. If you know of anyone in your neighborhood who is not on the watch, especially retirees or parents who work from home, please encourage them to join the watch by contacting Sgt. Therese Thompson at 630-257-2229 or tthompson@lemont.il.us.

If you see suspicious activity, call 911 or 630-257-2226 to report to Lemont Police Department Dispatch immediately.

Story Update:

Lemont Police Chief Kevin Shaughnessy said residents were not home at the time of the possible attempted burglary in Abbey Oaks, but called police when they discovered a broken window upon their return. During investigation, police also observed what appeared to be pry marks around a door.

Shaughnessy said investigators believe the would-be burglar may have somehow been scared off.

“It could have been somebody just driving by – and we want to make sure they don’t come back again,” he said.

According to Shaughnessy, the best defense against home burglaries is alert residents who don’t hesitate to call police when they see something in their neighborhood that just doesn’t look quite right.

“If homeowners see anything suspicious – like cars that don’t look familiar, cars they don’t recognize parked on their street or an individual they don’t know walking in their neighborhood, anything that looks suspicious, don’t wait until the end of the day or the next day – call 9-1-1 right away,” Shaughnessy said.

“Any hesitation or delay hurts us,” Shaughnessy added. “If we want to catch these people, our officers need to know right away.”

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