WILMETTE – Wilmette police are again reminding people to lock their doors after nearly two dozen cars were burglarized and one was stolen outright in the village between April 9 and April 10. The police also implore people to call 911 when they see something suspicious.
In one instance on April 10, a resident on the 1600 block of Greenwood Avenue reported that a gray 2016 Kia Sorrento that did not belong to her was parked in her driveway. Turns out it was stolen from a home on the 1000 block of Elmwood Avenue the previous night. Police towed the car to the Wilmette Police Station for processing.
In another instance on April 9, a resident of the 700 block of Elmwood Avenue called police at 8:08 a.m. to report that in the middle of the night she saw a man going into her neighbors’ cars while walking down her street, and that he had been trailed by a black SUV and dark colored sedan, apparently driven by accomplices. She told police that she turned on her house lights, causing the suspect and vehicles to flee the area.
The woman witnessed the activity at 2:24 a.m. but did not call police until 8:08 a.m.
“If you see something suspicious, call 911 immediately,” said Wilmette Police Commander Michael McGarry. “We would rather respond and find that nothing is out of the ordinary then miss something because it isn’t reported.”
Police also are urging residents and their guests to always remove valuables from cars, and to lock the doors of their vehicles, garages and homes. They even suggest locking vehicles that are in a secured garage.
“These crimes are not specific to Wilmette, but we can make Wilmette less of a target by simply locking our doors”
Here’s the Crime Alert from the Wilmette Police Department on April 10:
During the overnight hours from Monday, April 9 and Tuesday, April 10, unknown offenders committed twenty-two (22) burglaries to unlocked vehicles parked in driveways and on the street. The offenders targeted the passenger compartment areas and trunks of these vehicles. The offenders took keys, garage door openers, money, cases containing various items, and sports bags.
The reported auto burglaries occurred in the below blocks.
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100 & 200 blocks of Central Park Avenue
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100 & 200 blocks of 17th Street
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100 block of Sterling Lane
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1900 block of Thornwood Avenue
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1900 block of Greenwood Avenue
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2100 block of Greenwood Avenue
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1500 block of Walnut Avenue
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1200 block of Glendenning Road
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1700 block of Central Avenue
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800 block of Elmwood Avenue
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200 block of Broadway Avenue
