Police Take To Streets To Remind Residents To Lock Cars

PALOS TOWNSHIP, IL -- The year 2018 may go down as the “summer of unlocked car burglaries” and south suburban police are doing their best to make sure the crime wave doesn’t carry over into fall. Palos Heights and Palos Park police, who spent a night last week chasing car burglars, are taking to the streets to get the message across to residents to “lock it or lose it.”

Chief Joe Miller, of the Palos Park Police Department, said officers have distributed hundreds of letters reminding residents to remove all valuables from their vehicles and lock their cars after a number of thefts and stolen vehicles.

“We are hanging, handing and offering residents the letters,” Miller said.

Over in Palos Heights, police produced a public service announcement that is currently airing on PHTV 4’s “Around Palos.” Officer John Parmitzke said that car burglaries and motor vehicle thefts have tripled in the community from last year. Thieves are no longer smashing car windows and grabbing items inside the vehicle. Instead, they’re walking down the street shaking car door handles, looking for unlocked vehicles.

>>> Police Spend Overnight Hours Chasing Car Burglars

Parmitzke said one reason residents may be lax about locking up their vehicles is that Palos Heights has always been considered a safe community.

“These crimes are 100-percent preventable,” Parmitzke said. “Thieves are looking for any car that is unlocked. They’re in and out in a matter of seconds.”

Residents have also been leaving keys and key fobs in their unlocked cars, resulting in their vehicles being stolen. These crimes are being committed by sophisticated crews as well as individuals, many of them supporting drug habits. (SUBSCRIBE: Get Real-Time Alerts and a Daily Newsletter for Palos)

“Vehicles owners with keyless ignitions are being lulled into a false sense of security thinking they don’t have to the fob into the house,” Parmitzke added.

Palos Heights police have ordered signs that will be posted around the community later this week advising residents of the crime wave. Police have also taken to posting messages on digital billboards.

“We want to make it harder for criminals to get into vehicles,” Parmitzke said. “By everyone locking their vehicles the criminals will move elsewhere.”

• Keep vehicle alarms active and/or use a locking device on the steering wheel.
• Remove all valuables (e.g., backpacks, cell phones, purses, wallets, sunglasses, GPS systems, keys, iPod’, shopping bags, cigarettes, etc) from your vehicle.
• If you must keep valuables in your vehicle, lock them in the trunk.
• Never leave spare car keys or house keys in your vehicle.
• Whenever possible, park your vehicle in a well-lit area and lock your doors.
• If your garage door opener is stolen, make sure you change your system code.
• Use locking screws for your license plate.

Watch the Palos Heights Police PSA

Top photo courtesy of Palos Heights PD