Crime & Safety
Overall Crime Down In Naperville Despite Recent Spike, Cops Say
Despite a recent rash of burglaries, gun incidents and robberies, Naperville police say crime in 2021 has been lower than in past years.
NAPERVILLE, IL — Despite a recent spike in robberies, burglaries and gun incidents, Naperville police say crime rates in 2021 are actually lower than in previous years.
Interim Naperville Police Chief Jason Arres acknowledged the city's recent surge in crime via a post shared on the police department's Facebook page Tuesday. He wrote,"It’s no secret that we’ve had a busy couple weeks."
Arres went on to share crime data from Jan. 1 through Sept. 28 over the past six years. The data analyzed robberies, burglaries, aggravated assaults and car burglaries and thefts.
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The average crimes reported in Naperville from Jan. 1 through Sept. 28 from 2016 to 2021 are as follows, according to the Naperville Police Department:
Robberies
2016: 21
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2017: 21
2018: 22
2019: 19
2020: 24
2021: 16
Car Thefts
2016: 38
2017: 36
2018: 41
2019: 37
2020: 24
2021: 16
Aggravated Assault/Battery
2016: 70
2017: 73
2018: 67
2019: 65
2020: 89
2021: 54
Burglaries
2016: 117
2017: 101
2018: 132
2019: 99
2020: 122
2021: 76
Car Burglaries
2016: 213
2017: 238
2018: 225
2019: 128
2020: 260
2021: 98
Arres wrote, "Please understand that this is not to minimize the seriousness of any of the crimes committed. Again, we understand that any crime is concerning, but it is important to look at the data for a complete picture. Naperville is a safe city. It’s just not a crime-free city."
He went on to share the following tips to help residents avoid being victims of a crime:
- Keep belongings secure.
- Be aware of your surroundings.
- "If you see something, say something."
The police department's announcement comes after a string of crimes were committed in Naperville throughout late August and into October. They included:
- Armed robbery at Subway on Sept. 30
- Shots fired incident on Sept. 29
- Jewelry store burglary on Sept. 22
- Bank robbery on Sept. 22
- School bomb threat on Sept. 22
- Bank robbery on Sept. 21
- Home invasion on Sept. 18
- Police say gun found in stolen car on Sept. 13
- Fatal shooting on Aug. 29
Arres reassured residents, "We will continue to remain committed to proactive policing in an effort to deter crime, provide swift and effective response to in-progress incidents, and thoroughly investigate crimes committed with the goal of catching those responsible and holding them accountable."
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