Crime Plunges In Western Springs In 2021: Report

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – Western Springs saw big drops in property crimes last year, according to the police department's annual report.

Burglaries and general theft decreased by 83 percent and 36 percent, respectively. And motor vehicle thefts fell by two-thirds last year.

"Most of those are preventable, and our staff did a nice job educating, but at the end of the day, it's up to the residents and businesses to deliver on the education we gave them," Police Chief Brian Budds told the Village Board this week. "I think these numbers speak volumes that they did that."

Over the last decade, though, crime has increased in Western Springs. In 2021, the village reported 191 total crimes in the main categories, up from 42 in 2012.

Of the total crimes in the main categories, all but four were thefts. Three burglaries and one vehicle theft were reported.

Much of the increase in thefts, the chief said, is attributed to identity thefts, which have been on the rise nationwide.

In 2021, the village reported no murders, sexual assaults, robberies or aggravated batteries, according to its annual report.

At the board meeting, Trustee James Tyrrell called Western Springs "a very, very safe community."

"There are hardly any violent crimes here. We had three burglaries last year. That's in no small part due to your staff," he told the police chief.

Village President Alice Gallagher agreed. She credited the decreases to the police department's public outreach to prevent "easy crimes."

"I know a big part of that is your diligence and the professionalism of you and your officers," she said.