Mokena Police Share Tips To Prevent Car Burglaries

MOKENA, IL -- Police in Mokena have shared several tips residents can follow to help lessen the chance of becoming a victim of the string of car burglaries that's been seen in the Lincoln-Way area in recent weeks. They are also asking residents to help deter crime by being the "eyes and ears" of the community and report incidents of suspicious behavior.

The following simple tips only take a few minutes every night, police said in a news release shared by the village of Mokena.

• Lock your vehicle.
• Remove valuables such as wallets, purses, laptop computers, and phones from your vehicle while it is unattended.
• If removing valuables from the vehicle is not practical, place them out of view. Make sure you lock the vehicle.
• Every night before going to bed, conduct a security check at your home. Ensure your vehicles are locked, that your garage door is closed, and that your residence is secured.

Police say the culprits in many of the recent car burglaries are by out-of-area suspects during the overnight hours. In most cases, it's an unlocked vehicle parked in a driveway or on the street that is being burglarized.

There have also been multiple reports - in Mokena and other nearby towns - of vehicles being stolen as a result of a key or proximity fob having been left inside. Open, unsecured garage doors additionally invite criminal activity, according to police.

"If you see suspicious activity in your neighborhood, call 911," police wrote in the news release. "Descriptions of suspicious people and their clothing, along with vehicle descriptions and license plates, are extremely helpful."

Police themselves will also step up overnight patrols in both marked and unmarked vehicles.

Those with additional questions regarding how they can partner with Mokena Police to make the community safer are encouraged to contact Crime Prevention Officer Dennis Boardman at (708) 479-3912.

Patch file photo