Recently, Lincolnshire and surrounding Lake County communities experienced a number of residential burglaries, stolen cars, and burglaries to motor vehicles. Northshore communities are attractive to criminals for several reasons – primarily because criminals associate nice homes with expensive items (e.g., jewelry, collector’s items) and accessible cash, all of which are ideal for stealing.
The Village of Lincolnshire is fortunate to have a history of relatively low criminal activity. When people feel safe, they are less likely to diligently secure their valuables. The recently stolen autos and vehicle burglaries all involved unlocked cars. Unfortunately, many criminals look for easy targets and commit crimes out of opportunity.
The Lincolnshire Police Department strives to proactively thwart would-be criminals and will continue to address the ongoing concerns regarding recent criminal incidents. Below is a summary of our efforts:
- Police officers conduct preventative patrols throughout the Village. Since January 2023, officers:
- Issued 109 Crime Opportunity Notices in residential areas to alert community members they could potentially become a victim.
- Conducted over 280 hours of extra patrols throughout residential areas.
- The Village Board of Trustees approved installation of Automatic License Plate Reader cameras on the main Village roadways later this year.
- Officers conduct Neighborhood Watch meetings with homeowners associations and community groups.
- The Police Department offers residents free, personal home security surveys and vacation watch services.
- Village staff communicate crime prevention messaging such as “Lock It or Lose It,” “9pm Routine,” ruse burglary prevention, and home security tips on social media, E-News, and in the quarterly printed newsletter.
- Residents can join the conversation by volunteering on the Chief’s Citizen Council for Police Operations (C3PO).
Unfortunately, even in spite of Police efforts, crimes still occur. The Police Department has two dedicated detectives and crimes like the ones mentioned above are considered priorities for investigations. One detective is a member of the North Regional Major Crimes Task Force (NORTAF) - Burglary Task Force. As a member of the special task force, he works with neighboring communities to identify suspects and develop information to lead to the arrest of the individuals. This task force is instrumental in information sharing and helped solve several cases related to theft/burglaries across several communities, including Lincolnshire.
The Police Department is always available to answer community questions; however, officers may not be able to provide specific information about ongoing investigations. The Police Department remains dedicated to the safety of the Lincolnshire community. To request a Neighborhood Watch meeting or home security survey, or learn more about C3PO, contact the Police Department at 847-913-2350.
Yours in service,
Joe Leonas
Chief of Police