Police are warning residents in Antioch after approximately a dozen burglaries were reported, including some of which involved suspects trying to enter homes, which officials called “brazen.”
The Village of Antioch said they encourage residents once again to lock their homes and vehicles to help combat crime.
Police warn the latest instance of the burglaries involves an offender or offenders entering a home through an unlocked door.
Antioch Police Chief Geoff Guttschow says these crimes are becoming more concerning.
“This is an example of perpetrators of these crimes becoming more brazen,” Guttschow said.
“It also underscores the importance of residents making sure doors of homes and cars are locked at night,” he said.
Almost all victims of these “crimes of opportunity” had left doors to their homes or cars unlocked, allowing for easy access by criminals, Village of Antioch Communication Specialist Jim Moran said.
Moran said a total of 12 burglaries were reported to have occurred overnight between 3 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. in the Woods of Antioch and Antioch Manor subdivisions.
“If there is a good thing to come of this, it is that every time we remind residents to make sure they lock up at night, we seem to see a decrease in the number of victims,” Guttschow said.
The Antioch Police Department is renewing its push of the “9 p.m. routine” on social media.
The 9 p.m. routine has been adopted on social media by law enforcement agencies across North America.
The initiative offers a daily reminder for residents to remove valuables from their car, such as keys, wallets, cash, garage door openers, firearms and tablets.
Officials also said people should make sure vehicle and home doors and windows are shut and locked.
Police encourage residents who witness suspicious activity to call the Antioch Police Department dispatch at 847-270-9111 or 911 in the case of an emergency.
Anyone with any additional information related to the recent crimes, including those who may have security camera video or anyone who may have been the victim of an unreported crime, should call the Antioch Police dispatch center at 847-270-9111 or email [email protected].