Gurnee group on lookout for crime

Spurred by a daytime home burglary and several summer vandalism incidents, at least 60 Gurnee residents met with police this week to begin forming a neighborhood watch group.

Gurnee police crime prevention technician Tom Agos said the fed up residents live in the University Park area on the village's east side, bounded by Route 41, First Street, Grand Avenue and Blackstone Avenue.

"It was a really great meeting," said Agos, who directed Monday's session. "I give the citizens a lot of credit for coming out and asking the tough questions."

As a result of the meeting, four residents volunteered to be a core group of neighborhood watch leaders. Gurnee police officer Marty DePerte has been assigned to be the residents' main contact and to help them with the program.

Resident Nancy DePauw said she's glad the neighborhood is taking a stand against criminal activity. She's lived near University Park for about 16 years and can't recall as many problems in previous years.

DePauw said there have been too many outsiders coming into her neighborhood. "It's escalating," DePauw said, referring to suspicious and criminal incidents. "We've had some problems in the park."

Agos said several incidents occurred over the summer in and near University Park led a resident to recently contact police about establishing a neighborhood watch.

The incidents include a portable toilet arson and spray painting of equipment at the park, as well as the afternoon residential burglary, he said.

"We can't definitively say why those things are happening," Agos said.

Gurnee police have increased patrols around University Park. Another potential deterrent being considered is the installation of motion-detecting lights on the property by the Gurnee Park District.

In addition, said Agos, residents were instructed to notify police about any suspicious activity, make sure their vehicles are routinely locked and check that their exterior house lighting is sufficient to deter burglars. Agos said the 60 or so residents who turned out for Monday's meeting was a strong showing. He said police used an automated telephone system to inform affected homeowners about the session at police headquarters.

Neighborhood watch groups form every so often in Gurnee.

One of the most recent initiatives occurred in the Bittersweet Woods subdivision on the village's west side in 2006.