Palatine Police Warn of Home Burglaries

PALATINE, IL - The Palatine Police Department is asking residents to report any suspicious vehicles, people or activities in their neighborhoods following a string of residential burglaries.

There have been several home burglaries in Palatine and neighboring communities with "similar characteristics," according to a village of Palatine e-newsletter. Home burglaries typically take place during the daytime hours because homes are often unoccupied, police said.

The Palatine Police Department offered the following tips to avoid becoming a victim of a residential burglary:

• Exchange phone numbers with your neighbors and keep an eye on each other’s homes
• Remember to lock all doors and windows before leaving your home
• Take measures to make it appear as if someone is home by utilizing light timers or leaving a radio on in the home
• Do not leave valuables in plain view of the front door, or in front of ground level windows

If you return home and see signs of burglary, do not enter. Leave immediately and call 911. Signs of a burglary may include a light turned off that you previously had left on, a sliding door ajar, or damage to a window or door.

"By taking precautions and looking out for one another, we hope to prevent these burglaries," according to the newsletter.

Residents can request a free home security survey from the Palatine Police Crime Prevention Unit by calling (847) 359-9013.