July 21, 2021
Crimes of opportunity
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Photos courtesy St. Charles Police Department An uptick of car break-ins have local authorities issuing a reminder to help prevent these crimes of opportunity by storing any and all property in the trunk of the vehicle.
St. Charles Police Department reports a spike in vehicle breakins and provides tips on how to avoid becoming a victim By Brett Auten It’s smash and grab. Alarms and 911 calls do little to deter them. The city of St. Charles has seen a hike in vehicle break-ins this year and are wanting residents and visitors alike to do the little things necessary to avoid these crimes of opportunity. More and more often, officers are seeing car windows pried and smashed, especially when property is visible from the outside. Lieutenant Tom Wilkison is with the Criminal Investigation Bureau and is the
Public Information Officer for the St. Charles Police Department. Wilkison shares in frustration that no matter what, a determined thief is going to steal your property. The targets can be found in both crowded subdivisions and packed parking lots. The common thread appears to be, leaving valuables within plain sight. “Thieves look for guarantees,” he said. “They do not want to spend extra time rummaging through a car looking.” Just locking your door isn’t enough. Vehicle break-ins are become a consistent nuisance from the metropolitan area to small municipalities.
Wilkison said that from the reports he has combed over, the scenario is too often similar. There is nearly always an item of interest; whether that is a backpack, purse, brief case, or shopping bag, After getting inside they scurry through the console, underneath the seats, and glove box, and in about 60 seconds worth of effort, they are gone. On to the next one. “We have seen an increase around hotels, the convention center and apartment complexes,” Wilkison said. “They are looking for a target-rich environment.” See ‘CRIMES’ page 2
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