Car Crimes Continue: Cops Add Darien to Long List of Communities Targeted

Like many neighboring DuPage County communities, Darien has seen a recent uptick in motor vehicle thefts.

Most recently, the Darien Lake subdivision and Stewart Drive have had multiple vehicles entered. All of the vehicles were left with their doors unlocked, according to a community alert.

"This could lead to offenders using a garage door opener to gain entry to your house in addition to the loss of personal items/paperwork from your vehicle," the notice said. "There was one residence where the garage door opener was used to gain entry to the garage, the subjects then opened a door in the garage which was unlocked however this only led to a furnace room."

Local law enforcement officials urge residents to lock their vehicles and to avoid leaving house or car keys inside.

"You can help combat these crimes if you take a moment and check that you have locked your vehicles, even if you will only be away for a short period of time," police said. "If you hear or see anything suspicious, do not hesitate to call 911, our police officers will be glad to check that you and your family are safe."

Last year, the Darien Police Department began its "Lock It or Lose It" campaign. The nationwide effort seeks to address a spike in vehicle thefts affecting the country.

Some tips we would like to pass along:

• Don't leave valuables in your car.
• If you must leave valuable items in your car while out and about, place items out of sight.
• Once home, unload your valuables immediately. Do not store valuables in your car any longer than necessary, and certainly never overnight.
• If possible leave no trace. Don't leave any sign that there might be valuables "out of sight" in your vehicle, such as docking stations or connector cables.
• Lock ALL your vehicle's doors, even if you plan to be gone for only a brief time. Every month, there are items stolen from unlocked vehicles where the owner was only going to be gone "just for a second."
• Set any alarm or anti-theft device. If you have one, use it! Many people believe that car-alarms no longer make a difference, but they can be an effective deterrent to an auto-burglar, who most often chooses the easiest target.

Residents are requested to dial 911 immediately if they see anything or anyone that looks suspicious.