Police remind residents on locking cars and other safety tips

Residents Should Make Sure Vehicles Are Locked and Valuable Items Are Removed

With the summer months upon us and residents spending more time outdoors, the Naperville Police Department (NPD) would like to remind citizens not to let their guard down when it comes to preventing crime. Crime does not take a vacation, and burglaries and thefts can occur at all hours, not just at night.

In 2010, Naperville reported 586 burglaries to motor vehicles. Seventy-two percent of those burglaries were to unlocked vehicles. Criminals often take advantage of open or unlocked doors and windows. The NPD reminds residents to remember the following tips:

• Do not leave vehicles unattended with the doors unlocked, windows down or the keys in them, even in your garage or driveway. Always lock all doors and make sure family members do the same. Check the door twice before walking away. Park in the garage whenever possible.

• The Naperville Police Department strongly encourages residents to remove all valuables, such as cell phones, iPods, GPS units, computers, purses and money from the vehicle when left unattended. Suspects have been known to break into a vehicle even for pocket change, candy and CDs and frequently take the time to search for items not immediately in plain view. If valuables must be left in the vehicle, please make sure that they are secured in the trunk.

• Remember, if a criminal has access to the inside of your vehicle, they likely have access to your garage door opener and/or house keys. Therefore, make sure you have deadbolts installed on the service door between the garage and your home, along with your front and back doors, and most importantly, use them. If you have sliding glass doors, install a bar or other auxiliary lock to enhance security.

• Be alert for suspicious activity in parking lots and neighborhoods. Call 9-1-1 immediately to report any unusual activity. Be prepared to provide vehicle (color, make, model and plate) and suspect (gender, race and clothing) information.

• Turn on outside residential lights and/or install motion sensor or photocell lights on the exterior of the garage to illuminate vehicles parked in driveways. Well – lit areas deter criminals from taking advantage of the cover of darkness. Remember, it only costs a “nickel a night” to leave your front and back exterior lights on.

• Close your overhead garage door unless it is within your immediate sight. It only takes a moment for a criminal to help themselves to your golf clubs, bicycles and tools, or to burglarize or steal your car or enter your unlocked home. This is especially important if there are children in the house while you are outside. The Naperville Community Radio Watch and patrol beat officers report hundreds of open garage doors each month during the evening hours.

• Document make, model and serial numbers of all electronic devices and keep a list of all credit card companies and banks, including account numbers, along with their corresponding phone numbers, in a secure place within your home. This will provide a quick and comprehensive way to cancel accounts in an attempt to circumvent further victimization. Do not keep this list in your wallet or purse!

If you believe you are a victim of a burglary:

• Do not enter the vehicle or residence. This is important not only for safety reasons, but also for the recovery of any trace evidence which, if recovered, could lead to the arrest of the offender(s).

• Call 9-1-1 immediately.

• In the event electronic devices were taken, provide all make, model and serial numbers to the Police Department. If a cellular phone was taken, be sure to contact the service provider and inform them of the theft, cancel the service and inquire if any calls have been made. If calls were made, provide that information to the police.

• If a wallet or purse was stolen, use the comprehensive list of credit card companies and banks, along with account numbers and corresponding phone numbers, the NPD recommends everyone create and contact the credit card companies and banks immediately to close all accounts. If any fraudulent charges have been made, be sure to call the Police Department with this information and have the credit card company send you an “Affidavit of Forgery” to confirm that you, the cardholder, did not make the transaction.

For more information on community policing programs or Community Radio Watch, contact the Naperville Police Department at (630) 548-2989. For more information on the City of Naperville, visit www.naperville.il.us. Sign up to receive the latest news on the City of Naperville's projects and initiatives via e-mail at www.naperville.il.us/enews.aspx.