Burglars target cars at Aurora day care facilities

Aurora police say burglars have been targeting cars, even those parked for short amounts of time, at three different day care center parking lots in the DuPage County portion of the city.

Police said the burglaries occurred between 5:20 and 5:50 p.m. Thursday. The victims were five mothers who had gone to pick up their children from the various locations and had left purses or other valuables in plain view in their vehicles.

In three of the five burglaries, a suspect smashed a window to enter the vehicles and within seconds made off with cash, electronics, credit cards, and other items. In the two other cases, the vehicles were unlocked and valuables taken. The total loss in all five burglaries is $3,300.

Three of the thefts occurred on the 700 block of Shoreline Drive, and one each on the 700 block of Long Grove Drive and the 4100 block of Healthway Drive.

Police are calling the crimes "brazen." They say the burglaries also serve as reminders of the importance of taking anything of value out of vehicles or hiding the items out of sight, no matter how short the time the vehicle may be left unattended.

Police are asking anyone with information to call Aurora Police Investigations at (630) 256-5500 or Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at (630) 892-1000. Callers to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and qualify for a cash reward of up to $5000 for information that leads to any arrests.