Full Notification

Crime Prevention Alert from the Burr Ridge Police Department:

There has been an increase in "Ruse" residential burglary attempts, vehicle thefts, and burglary to vehicles in suburban Cook, DuPage, and Will County over the past three months.  Perpetrators of the “ruse” type burglaries will often use a distraction to get inside your home. They represent themselves as public utility workers, Village employees, or workers fixing a problem at your neighbor’s house. Once inside your home, an accomplice will enter while you are distracted, and head to the most common areas where valuable are kept (bedrooms, offices). To avoid becoming a victim:

• Never allow unsolicited workers into your home.
• Do not accompany unsolicited workers outside your home to “inspect” a problem.
• Village employees carry official identification and will gladly show it. Call 9-1-1 if any person shows up to your home unsolicited and refuses to show ID (Solicitors must register with the Village and are issued ID’s).
• Be a good witness: obtain a good description of the person trying to distract you and the vehicle they are driving. Also, any other people you see with them.
• Be a good neighbor: If you see suspicious people or vehicles around your neighbors’ homes or property, call 9-1-1 and report what you see.

In reference to vehicle burglaries or thefts, the suspects in these crimes are searching for unlocked vehicles with the keys to the vehicles left inside.  In some instances the thieves are entering the homes of vehicle owners via the garage door openers found in unlocked vehicles and searching for the keys to the vehicle and then stealing them.  These vehicle thefts are occurring during the overnight hours.  In addition to stealing the vehicles the thieves are stealing purses and wallets and then using the identity and credit cards of the victims while traveling in their stolen vehicle. 

Please protect yourself and your families by always locking your vehicles and keeping your outside residential lighting on.  Additionally, never leave the keys to your vehicle or garage door openers inside vehicles parked outside.

Anyone who observes a criminal act in progress or suspicious activity is asked to call 911 immediately and to not take any action that would place them in danger.