Chief Kennedy outlines steps being taken to prevent thefts at Northbrook Court

Police Chief Christopher Kennedy spoke to Northbrook trustees this week about a pair of thefts from the Louis Vuitton store at Northbrook Court.

Most recently. 13 men wearing masks and gloves took several items worth $100,000 from the store and carried them outside to three waiting vehicles before escaping at 12:50 p.m. on Nov. 1. Previously, eight men took merchandise valued at $66,000 from the store before escaping at 6:45 p.m. on Oct. 5.

In both cases, no weapons were used and there were no injuries.

Speaking before the village board at Tuesday's regularly scheduled meeting, Kennedy made assurances that, even with the thefts, Northbrook is safe and violent crime is almost nonexistent in the village.

"Why we are here, and what's the boil-up point, (is) there's been a couple of events at Northbrook Court," Kennedy said. "It's good to clarify these are not robberies, they are organized retail thefts."

After the first theft, Kennedy said the police department met with mall security.

"What I said at the time is they're going to be back, and we put a good plan in motion," Kennedy said. "And they came back most recently with even greater numbers."

Because of that, Kennedy said, additional changes have been made, and he noted that one retailer has been targeted and that its proximity to a door is an issue. He also said an armed, off-duty police officer from outside the Northbrook Police Department is now providing security, and that the door to the store is being locked.

A Northbrook police officer will be at the mall 95% of the time, he added, and steps are being taken to prevent similar crimes from happening at the mall and elsewhere in the village.