2 Western Springs Burglaries Reported Wednesday

Two Western Springs homes were burglarized Wednesday, according to a release from the Western Springs Police Department.

The burglaries—one occurred in the 4200 block of Western Avenue in Old Town North and the other in the 4100 block of Howard Avenue in Field Park—took place between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Wednesday, and are currently under investigation. 

Both homes were unoccupied during the above time frame, police said, and forced entry was made through front doors in both instances. Cash and computer devices were missing from the home on Western; nothing was taken from the Howard home.

The homes are about three-quarters of a mile apart.

"These crimes may be associated or linked to the same offender(s) but we have no physical evidence to confirm they are related," Deputy Chief Brian Budds said in an email.  

Budds said items missing from the Western home are valued at $2,800.

The Western Springs Police Department provided the following tips for residents to avoid being burglarized: 

Develop a relationship with neighbors in which you watch each other’s homes while away. Our Neighborhood Watch Program is a proven method of crime prevention by reporting all suspicious activity to the police department. Please contact Deputy Chief Brian Budds at 708-246-1800, ext. 167 or at bbudds@wsprings.com if interested in starting up a Neighborhood Watch Program in your area. 

Check your landscaping to keep your driveway and yard area open and visible to neighbors. Call the police department if you observe any of the following: 

• Unfamiliar subjects walking between homes or yards 
• Unfamiliar subjects knocking on doors and then going to the rear of a home 
• Vehicle dome lights left on 
• Unusual dog barking 

Don’t be an easy target. Lock all first floor windows with auxiliary lock mechanisms. Use a bar to fit tightly into the track of sliding windows or doors. You can have an inexpensive dowel cut to fit snugly in the window track. This will prevent the window from being slid open. Remember, exterior doors should always be locked whether you are home or not. 

Secure your vehicles and garages. An unlocked vehicle often contains a garage door opener. Lock your vehicle even in your own driveway. Many residents fail to close their garage door immediately after entering or exiting. An open door is an invitation to a potential burglar. Finally, the service door between your garage and home should be of the same construction as an exterior door and contain a dead bolt lock. 

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