Vernon Hills police investigate string of residential burglaries

Police have video footage of a suspect in the burglaries of five Vernon Hills homes with unlocked doors or windows, officials said Wednesday.

The burglaries took place after 11 p.m. Monday and early Tuesday. Of the five homes that were robbed, two were on Ramney Avenue, one on Central Park Place in the Centennial Crossing subdivision on Route 45, and two were in the Gregg's Landing subdivision on Connor's Trail and Oakmont Drive. Residents' wallets and purses were stolen.

Police believe the thief entered most of the homes through an unlocked back door, although an unlocked garage window was used to get inside one home.

All the homes were occupied at the time, but no one was injured.

Police have video footage of a man tampering with the lights in the back of a Centennial Crossing home early Tuesday. He is described as a 5-foot, 10-inch lack man in his mid to late 20s with an average build. Officials believe he was wearing jeans, a hooded sweatshirt and a black beanie.

It is not clear if the man in the video is responsible for the burglaries, police said.

In the meantime, homeowners should make a habit of locking their front and back doors each night, Vernon Hills Police Chief Mark Fleishhauer said in a news release.

"In almost all of these cases, a rear door was left unlocked," Fleischhauer said. "While it is often a forgotten step in a person's nighttime routine, diligently locking all doors and windows before going to bed is the number one way to prevent these types of crimes."

Police also recommend using outdoor lighting.

Anyone with information about the burglaries or the man in the video is asked to call the Vernon Hills Police Department at (847) 362-4449.

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