String of early-morning burglaries prompts police warning
Purses, wallet, backpacks removed from kitchen counters as residents slept
Updated:
Oak Park police warned residents Nov. 13 to secure window and door locks after a series of overnight burglaries that took place during the early morning hours in single family homes in the 800 blocks of South Kenilworth and Clinton Avenues and in the 100 and 200 blocks of South Elmwood and Scoville Avenues.
"Our investigation has determined that the burglar entered through either a window or door in the rear of the property to take items nearby such as purses on kitchen counters," Police Chief Rick C. Tanksley said.
Burglaries occurring overnight Nov. 6-7 in the 200 block of South Elmwood Avenue and 100 block of South Scoville Avenue and Nov. 12-13 in the 800 blocks of Kenilworth and Clinton followed similar pattern. In most cases, burglars entered homes between midnight and 6 a.m. when residents were asleep. Opening unlocked kitchen windows or back doors, burglars removed purses, wallets and backpacks left in plain sight on kitchen counters and tables, police said.
The first incidents happened overnight Nov. 6-7. In the 200 block of South Emlmwood Avenue, a purse, briefcase, backpacks containing graphing calculators and laptops were removed by someone who entered through an unlocked window. Someone took a purse and wallet containing credit cards and cash from a house in the 100 block of South Scoville Avenue via an unlocked back door. A garage was also burglarized. Using a pry tool, someone broke a rear door in the 100 block of South Scoville Avenue and removed a purse, credit cards and cell phone. Via an unlocked window, someone entered a house in the 100 block of North Elmwood, and removed a suitcase and duffle bag.
A second wave occurred in the 800 blocks of Clinton and South Kenilworth Avenues overnight Nov. 11-12. Thieves entered unlocked rear doors, unlocked kitchen windows and removed screens. Removed were purses, sunglasses and wallets from kitchen counters.
That night someone also pried open a rear door of a house in the 300 block of South Clinton Avenue and removed a wallet from the kitchen counter.
Police are beefing up patrols in the areas and analyzing crime incidents to predict where the next hot spot will be.
Police say that while the thief apparently has not gone far into the homes entered, this type of crime creates a potentially dangerous situation.
"If you hear or see anything unusual call the police immediately," Tanksley said. "Any delay in calling is time the police could use to respond and apprehend the offender."
The police offered the following tips to make your home less of a target for burglars:
• Don't leave items of value visible from the exterior of the home – especially from the rear door and kitchen area.
• Ensure that all doors and windows are locked and that the locks are functioning properly.
• Use window pegs or screws so that windows cannot be moved passed a certain point from the exterior.
• Install motion detector lights for the rear of your home to illuminate entryways.
• Don't leave items such as ladders, stools or lawn furniture adjacent to or near exterior windows.
Anyone with questions or who would like police to conduct a security survey at their home is urged to call 708.386.3800 or email police@oak-park.us.
This article has been corrected to identify a burglary on the 200 block of South Elmwood Avenue.
Love the Journal?
Become our partner in independent community journalism
Thanks for turning to Wednesday Journal and OakPark.com. We love our thousands of digital-only readers. Now though we're asking you to partner up in paying for our reporters and photographers who report this news. It had to happen, right?
On the plus side, we're giving you a simple way, and a better reason, to join in. We're now a non-profit -- Growing Community Media -- so your donation is tax deductible. And signing up for a monthly donation, or making a one-time donation, is fast and easy.
No threats from us. The news will be here. No paywalls or article countdowns. We're counting on an exquisite mix of civic enlightenment and mild shaming. Sort of like public radio.
Claim your bragging rights. Become a digital member.
Reader Comments
8 Comments - Add Your Comment
Note: This page requires you to login with Facebook to comment.
Facebook Connect
Answer Book 2019
To view the full print edition of the Wednesday Journal 2019 Answer Book, please click here. |
Quick Links
Sign-up to get the latest news updates for Oak Park and River Forest. | |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
Subscribe | Classified |
Multimedia | Contact us |
Submit Letter To The Editor | |
Place a Classified Ad |
Latest Comments
Jim Kelly would you tell the arm chair pundits how the...
By Bill Maxwell
Posted: January 26th, 2021 5:47 PM
Ruth Lazarus I appreciate you being the only one to...
By Bill Maxwell
Posted: January 26th, 2021 5:44 PM
Well, Jim, gotta tell ya, it's not about grinding...
By William Dwyer Jr.
Posted: January 26th, 2021 5:32 PM
Kudos to Vicki for her thoughtful and INFORMED effort...
By Jim Kelly
Posted: January 26th, 2021 5:16 PM
William - Per the IRS website, SUA is up to date on...
By Nick A Binotti
Posted: January 26th, 2021 5:16 PM
Ruth, really. Evidence that includes statements made...
By William Dwyer Jr.
Posted: January 26th, 2021 5:04 PM
Bill: I would agree that calling Mr. Peppard a cranky...
By Ruth Lazarus
Posted: January 26th, 2021 4:54 PM
Jr. anyone who reads your comments knows you are an...
By Bill Maxwell
Posted: January 26th, 2021 4:49 PM
To clarify, in my previous post, I refer to favorable...
By Doug Katz
Posted: January 26th, 2021 4:19 PM
Amazing. Clark's Suburban Unity Alliance, which...
By William Dwyer Jr.
Posted: January 26th, 2021 4:15 PM
Jean Lotus from Wednesday Journal
Wednesday Journal Employee
Posted: November 14th, 2013 5:16 PM
Lori M. According to police reports these incidents occurred between midnight and around 6:30 a.m. and residents were at home. These were burglaries, not robberies.
Jim Coughlin from Oak Park, Illinois
Facebook Verified
Posted: November 14th, 2013 3:03 PM
You are taking the former Secretary of State's words out of context. You should. read the full transcript of Clinton's May 8, 2013 testimony to the House Oversight Committee.
Paddy Boy
Posted: November 14th, 2013 2:37 PM
Dear Lori M, As Hillary Clinton said recently about the attack on our embassy, "Senator what difference does it make?" By the way are you filling in fro Violet?
Lori M
Posted: November 14th, 2013 2:23 PM
Obviously it's disconcerting. Not to belabor the point but early morning to me extends to anything before 9AM. Is this happening when people leave for their day, or while people are still at home sleeping? One never knows if the writer is using "burglary" and "robbery" interchangeably or in their true definitions.
Paddy Boy
Posted: November 14th, 2013 12:43 PM
Back in the Old Country we used to define it as, "Before or after the bars closed ..."
bradly johnson from chicago
Posted: November 14th, 2013 9:37 AM
I believe that whether or not the author clearly defined the time is important. The point is clear: THERE HAVE BEEN BURGLARIES IN THE COMMUNITY SO BE CAUTIOUS AND SMART!
Seriously from Oak Park
Posted: November 13th, 2013 8:31 PM
Lori M, it says "overnight burglaries during the early morning" I am going to guess it was between Midnight and four or five in the morning. I don't think the writer should have to further define early morning hours. We can probably figure it out.
Lori M from Oak Park
Posted: November 13th, 2013 1:36 PM
Would be nice if this article defined "early morning hours."