Police offer seasonal crime prevention tips

Dec. 16, 2024 - With the holidays approaching, the Oak Park Police Department is working to raise public awareness of some common crimes of the season by offering the following tips to help reduce the chances of becoming a victim:

• Package theft - Residents ordering online and expecting deliveries should make arrangements with friends, family or neighbors so that packages will not be left out where thieves can get them. Check with your online retailer as some offer options to deliver your packages to a business or secure location, such as a locker. Click here for more tips on preventing package delivery thefts.
   
• Pickpockets and thieves - If you are out shopping or dining, take care to protect purses, bags and wallets when out in public. Thieves like bags and purses hanging on chair backs, left in shopping carts, sitting unattended or simply set down while the owner answers a telephone or is otherwise distracted.
   
• Auto burglaries - Packages and valuables left visible in an auto - even if it is locked - are an invitation to thieves who may be willing to damage your vehicle to get at them. And if you have to make multiple trips from your car to your home to unload, be alert - especially if the car is left unattended.
   
• Robberies…Don’t be distracted with cell phones while walking or waiting for public transportation. Pay attention to your environment and what’s around you. If you think someone acting suspiciously is approaching you or following you, cross to the other side of the street and head for the nearest public place. Obey an offender’s instructions — property can be replaced, you cannot.
   
• Motor vehicle theft - Many autos are reported stolen during colder months after being left unattended to warm up, unlocked and running with the keys in the ignition. This can happen on the street, in a garage, while making a quick stop at a store for a carryout order or at a gas station. Leaving a running vehicle unattended not only increases its risk of being stolen, it also is a violation of state law. Law enforcement officials throughout the region have also seen an increase in vehicle thefts involving 2010-2021 Hyundai and Kia models. If you own one of these vehicles, we recommend considering extra security measures such as a steering wheel lock device. For more information, click here.
   
• Sign up for vacation watch - If you have a vacation coming up, officers can provide periodic checks of your residence for peace of mind. To schedule a vacation watch, email police@oak-park.us with your name, address, phone number, dates of vacation, emergency contact information and if you have an alarm, pets or lights on a timer. 

Residents are urged to report any suspicious activity to the Police non-emergency number, 708.386.3800. And if you see a crime taking place, or about to take place, always call 911.

More information about the Police Department is posted at www.oak-park.us/police.