Financial Crimes Among Highest Incidents Investigated In Wheaton In 2024: Police Town Hall

WHEATON, IL — The Wheaton Police Department investigated over 250 crimes in 2024. Of these, the majority were general investigations and financial crimes, according to data shared in the May 29 Wheaton Police Department (WPD) Town Hall.

Below, you'll find a breakdown of the crimes WPD investigated in 2024.

General investigations: 54

Financial crimes: 46

Death investigations: 31

Sex offender investigations: 18

Theft: 13

Juvenile investigations: 13

Crimes against seniors: 12

Disorderly conduct/school threats: 9

Internet crime against children: 9

Residential burglary: 9

Burglary to a motor vehicle: 4

Missing persons: 2

Detective-assigned investigative cases have continued to grow, per the data show below, which was shared at the town hall.

2021: 152 cases
2022: 187
2023: 219
2024: 266

Wheaton Police Chief P.J. Youker mentioned that some challenges that arise during investigations are the complexity of the crimes, increased requirements of legal processes and crimes that extend beyond the borders of the city.

Regarding financial crimes, Youker said they, "in their very nature are typically convoluted and tough to resolve."

Youker said disorderly "particularly weighs on us very heavily because we take those very seriously."

He said, "Each one of those represents a student or somebody outside the school threatening violence inside one of our schools."

Youker shared data for subpoenas and search warrants dating back to 2020. "You will see how they have slowly trended upward, all the way to 2024," he said.

In 2020, 110 subpoenas and 95 search warrants were issued. In 2024, there were 148 subpoenas and 240 search warrants.

"Where, in the past, we would have cooperation from businesses to provide information from victims' bank accounts, we're now required to get subpoenas," Youker said. Those subpoenas must be approved by a grand jury, Youker said.

"So, we're talking about additional time, just to even help the victims of our crimes," he said.

Youker also mentioned that search warrants can be very lengthy and sometimes there are "unique challenges" to actually executing the search warrant, including an individual's potential for violence, locations that are fortified against police and trying to locate an individual.