Police departments throughout Lake County are urging residents to lock their vehicles as thieves continue stealing cars and burglarizing parked vehicles during the night.
The Lindenhurst Police Department said they responded on Monday to nine reports of vehicles that had been unlawfully entered overnight.
The incidents occurred in the 400 block of Northgate Road, 300 block of High Point Drive, 1800 block of Prairie Ridge Circle and 2200 block of Ridgeland Drive.
Items were stolen from inside some of the vehicles, police said.
The suspects stole a car from the 2000 block of Fairfield Road. The vehicle keys were left inside the car.
All of the vehicles targeted had been left unlocked prior to the break-ins, police said.
Authorities said residents should keep their vehicles locked and valuables out of sight.
The Libertyville Police Department said unknown offenders committed multiple vehicle break-ins between August 21 and August 24.
The offenders committed burglaries to vehicles, two attempted vehicle burglaries and stole two vehicles.
It is unknown if the crimes were committed by the same offenders, police said.
Surveillance images of some of the offenders were obtained and released.
The Libertyville Police Department said anyone with information related to the offenders of the crimes should contact the Libertyville Police Department Investigations Division at 847-362-8310 or the Lake County Crime Stoppers at 847-662-2222.
The police department said Libertyville was not the only community targeted and several surrounding communities have seen a recent increase in thefts and burglaries involving vehicles.
The Libertyville Police Department said residents and visitors should lock their vehicles and remove key fobs, house keys and any other valuable items from their vehicle.
Residents should also lock their homes and garages.
The Waukegan Police Department said early last week that they had also seen an increase in car burglaries.
Officials said they are often times difficult cases to solve because there is typically very little physical evidence left behind.
The crimes usually occur in the late evening and early morning hours.