Park Ridge police say at least 11 unlocked cars were burglarized and one car was stolen during two separate crime sprees that occurred over two nights.
A handgun, iPad, credit cards, tools and more than $100 in cash were among the items stolen from the cars during the overnight hours between July 23 and July 24 and between July 25 and July 26, police said.
The burglaries reported between July 23 and July 24 occurred on the 2100 block of Glenview Avenue, the 2300 block of Oak Lane and the 2000 block of Woodland Drive.
The burglaries that occurred the following night were reported on the first three blocks of North Hamlin Avenue, the 500 block of North Rose Avenue, the 100 block of South Northwest Highway, and 1500 block of South Brophy Avenue, police said.
All of the cars were left unlocked, police said. A 2017 Buick Enclave, reported stolen from the 200 block of North Hamlin Avenue on July 26, was also unlocked with the keys left inside, said Park Ridge Deputy Police Chief Duane Mellema.
The car was later found on the 2200 block of West Crystal Street in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood, police said.
Two male teenage suspects were caught on surveillance video during the early morning hours of July 26, police said. Police responding to a call of suspicious people around 2:50 a.m. that morning also encountered two teens, who reportedly fled from officers.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Park Ridge Police Department at 847-318-5252.
Police are again reminding residents to lock their cars and avoid leaving valuables unattended inside.
“We’re not the only municipality that’s being hit,” Mellema said.
Harwood Heights police on July 26 reported that “numerous” burglaries of unlocked cars have occurred in the village since June, and surveillance camera images that the department says shows the suspects and the cars they were driving were released.