Darien Police Warn of Car Burglaries and Thefts

DARIEN, IL — Police are encouraging Darien residents to combat a recent rash of car burglaries by locking car doors.

Many towns around Darien have also seen a spike in car burglaries and stolen cars, according to police.

Offenders usually pull on car door handles late at night, and they can use garage door openers to gain access to garages and even the inside of homes.

Residents are asked to call 911 to report suspicious people or behavior.

Last year the Darien Police Department began the nationwide Lock It or Lose It campaign to address the car burglary problem.

Police offer the following tips

• 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

Anyone who would like more information on the Lock It or Lose It program can call police at (630) 971-3999.