North Shore Police Stepping Up Patrols Due To Car Thefts

SHOREWOOD, WI — Shorewood Police say they've increased their staffing levels and are partnering with other North Shore departments to help combat a rash of recent vehicle thefts.

Shorewood police are reporting that most of the thefts have stemmed from vehicle owners leaving their vehicles running and unattended.

"While these thefts can happen at any time if the opportunity is present, a vast majority of the recent incidents have occurred in the morning hours while the vehicles were left running and unattended while 'warming up," the department stated in a prepared release.

Not all car thefts have been these types of crimes, however. A recent incident came on Jan. 27 in Whitefish Bay, when a woman was robbed of her Mercedes in a back alley.

According to Whitefish Bay Police, officers responded to the 5300 block of N. Idlewild Ave. on a report of a robbery. Police told Patch.com that two black males wearing hoodies with their faces covered, approached a woman in her alley and ordered her to give them her keys. The boys were 14 and 15 years old, police said.

Police say the two boys fled the area southbound in the woman's Mercedes. A third black male in a Kia also appeared to be involved, police said. Both the Kia and Mercedes fled from Glendale Squads.

Shorewood police are urging residents to lock their cars when they're not attended, in addition to sharing suspicious incidents to police to help gather information. "We encourage everyone to lock your vehicle and take your keys with you any time you leave it unattended. Doing so takes away the criminal opportunity described above," Shorewood police said in a prepared release.

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