Police officials are urging residents to remain vigilant after multiple vehicles were stolen and burglarized in several Lake County towns this week.
The Antioch Police Department issued a community alert after two vehicles were stolen and a dozen others were burglarized early Friday morning.
The two vehicles were reported stolen at around 4:30 a.m. Friday from the Trevor Creek and Antioch Manor subdivisions, which are located on the north side of the village.
Responding Antioch police officers spotted the vehicles and gave chase, but the pursuit was terminated “out of concern for public safety” when the fleeing suspects reached speeds of nearly 100 mph as they approached downtown, Antioch Assistant Village Administrator Jim Moran said.
Antioch police detectives learned that one of the two stolen vehicles was being warmed up by the owner in a driveway.
The other stolen vehicle is believed to have been “hotwired,” Moran said.
Police later recovered one of the stolen vehicles in Antioch.
12 other vehicles were burglarized in the early morning hours of Friday, Moran said.
One of them had its steering column stripped in an attempt to hotwire the vehicle.
The police department posted surveillance video clips on their Facebook page showing masked men approaching parked vehicles and attempting to gain access.
“In each of the 14 most recent instances involving auto theft or burglary, every vehicle was left unlocked,” Moran said.
“Residents are reminded to make sure their car doors are locked and belongings are secured at night.”
Antioch Police Chief Geoffrey Guttschow said that residents should be on alert for suspicious activity.
“This type of crime is unfortunately becoming a normal part of living in suburban Chicago,” Guttschow said.
“These crews operate as a well-organized crime syndicate targeting communities across the region. I would like to remind residents that if they see suspicious activity, they should call 9-1-1 immediately, and not intervene.”
“In the past, we have had video footage of some car thieves carrying guns, which is another common occurrence that we’ve seen in similar crimes throughout the suburban areas. Please remember it is not worth risking your life to stop a car theft,” Guttschow added.
Moran said there is no evidence that the most recent car thieves in the village were armed.
Police are increasing overnight patrols in residential neighborhoods.
Anyone who has been a victim or has additional information related to the auto crimes, like surveillance video, is asked to call the Antioch Police Department’s dispatch center at 847-270-9111 or email [email protected].
Antioch’s community alert comes after numerous stolen vehicles and vehicle burglaries have been reported across Lake County this week.
At around 9 p.m. Thursday, a Volkswagen SUV was reported stolen from the Comfort Suites in Grayslake, 1775 East Belvidere Road, according to a regional police broadcast.
At around 1:10 a.m. Friday, Lake Zurich police officers spotted a stolen Hyundai near Route 22 and Quentin Road, and the vehicle fled from officers.
Around 30 minutes later, a stolen Hyundai reportedly fled from Vernon Hills police officers near Aspen Drive and Atlantic Drive. Burglaries to vehicles were also reported.
It is unclear if the Hyundai was the same vehicle that fled from Lake Zurich officers.