Crime Alerts

(Last updated 10/29/09)

With the holidays around the corner, it is important that you are aware of who your children may have contact with.  The Illinois State Police, with the participation of hundreds of County and Municipal Police Departments, have made available an online database that provides information about the Registered Sex Offenders that live in the community.  You can search the database located at http://www.isp.state.il.us/sor.

 Community Alert

The Hickory Hills Police Department would like to heighten the awareness of our residents regarding specific crimes that have recently increased in and around our community. Specifically, ruse entry burglaries, by American Gypsies have increased in frequency.

 Gypsies operate in various ways to victimize the elderly. As previously mentioned, ruse entry burglaries have been on the rise against the elderly.

 What is a ruse entry burglary? A ruse entry burglary is when more than one subject will search for an elderly homeowner, make contact with said homeowner, and through deception make entry into the unsuspecting resident’s home with the intent to steal valuables. The Gypsies will identify themselves to residents as utility workers, city employees, a neighbor’s friend, a concerned citizen, among many other identities to gain the confidence of the unsuspecting resident. Once contact is made with a resident, one or more of these offenders will divert the attention of the homeowner, likely while making entry in to your home, while one or more offenders (often not even seen) enter the home to steal valuables. The Gypsies generally target cash and jewelry. It is very common for these types of offenders to be overly friendly and act as if they know you. They tend to be very cunning and convincing. Gypsies tend to travel in groups and the individuals tend to be of the same ethnic group. The members of the groups dress alike, cut their hair alike, grow facial hair at the same time or remain clean shaven at the same time, all this carefully calculated to confuse residents for identification purposes.

 In most cases, the theft of valuables is not detected until a considerable amount of time has passed.

 In some instances when an elderly citizen is victimized, the citizen will not report the crime because they feel embarrassed the incident occurred. Our agency urges citizens to call if an incident like this occurs. No resident should feel ashamed, embarrassed or humiliated by the acts of these offenders.

 Ways to protect yourself:

 *If you are not expecting anyone, don’t answer the door and call the police.

*Keep your storm doors locked if you intend to answer the door.

*If a person identifies themselves as any of the above mentioned people, call the police to      verify their identity.

* Call City Hall or Public Works to verify if work is being done in your neighborhood.

*Do not hesitate to tell anyone they are not coming in your home without verification of who they are.

ONLINE SAFETY TIPS

Over the last year we have seen an increase in thefts from motor vehicles. The majority of these thefts occurred simply because the vehicle owner did not lock the car doors. Criminals will simply try the door handle to see if it is unlocked. If the door is unlocked they will enter the car and take whatever they can. If the door is locked they move onto another vehicle. The rest of the thefts occur when the criminal observes valuables inside of the car. If they see a radar detector, GPS system or other valuables they will smash out the side window and remove those items.

 To help prevent you from becoming a victim, ensure you lock you car door and try to remove all valuables from view. Park your vehicle in the driveway close to a well lit area. You may also want to put your garage door opener in the glove box or center counsel out of view to prevent someone from gaining access to your garage or home.

 

 We have also had a slight increase in crimes against the elderly. These crimes include thefts of wallets and purses from shopping centers. The criminal will steal the purse or wallet from the shopping cart either in the store or out in the parking lot. The criminals will work in pairs of two. One criminal will distract the victim by asking for help or directions. While the victim is distracted, the second criminal will remove the wallet from the purse or just take the purse. Within minutes the criminals will have left the area and used whatever credits cards were in the wallet.

 When shopping, try to leave your purse in the trunk of your vehicle. Only bring in your identification and credit cards, checks or cash. Keep alert for people following you in the store or if they follow you out of the store. Ask for assistance from store employees when you leave. If a criminal does try to take your purse, DO NOT FIGHT THEM. Yell for help and bring attention to the fact they are stealing from you.

 

Safety In The Home:

 

1.    Do not let strangers into your home. Ask for identification from anyone asking to be let into your home. When in doubt contact the police and ask for assistance.

2.    Ensure you shred all of your old mail and bills before you throw them away.

3.    Do not have the bank mail your new checks to your home. Pick them up from the bank.

4.    If going on vacation, ensure all of your doors and windows are locked. This includes the door to your garage. Inform the Hickory Hills Police that you would like an extra watch on your home during the time you are away. Have a trusted neighbor or other family member pick up your mail and your newspaper.

 

 

Lottery Scams

 

For the last few years we have seen an increase in Lottery Scams. These scams usually start out with a letter or an E-mail indicating to you that you have won a lottery prize. The letter or E-mail will advise you that you will have to send them a sum of money in order to receive a larger sum of money. Obviously this is a scam and once you send them the money you are out of luck. The problem with these crimes is that they almost always originate overseas and we as a local police department can not further investigate them.

Remember…

If it’s to good to be true…It usually is.

 

 

Remember we are a community and we should look out for each other. Report any suspicious activity to the police when you observe it. You can call “911” or the non-emergency number 598-4900 to report any crimes.

 

 As with the surrounding communities, we have seen our share of home burglaries. A common ploy for these criminals is to ring doorbells or knock on doors of the intended victims. If someone answers the door the offender will come up with an excuse as to why they are there. Usually they will say they are lost and will ask for directions.  Normally people who are lost will stop at gas stations or at police departments to ask for directions. If this happens to you it never hurts to call the police. It is always better to err on the side of caution.

 

Child Safety Tips

 

1.    Always know were your child is.

2.    Know your child’s friends and were they live.

3.    Tell you child never to go with strangers.

4.    Tell your child never to help a stranger find a lost animal.

5.    If you child is approached by a stranger tell them not just to yell but to yell something to get the attention of others. You want them to yell something like “Leave me alone, I don’t know you.”  or “Leave me alone, your not my mother/father.”

6.    Ensure your child knows his home phone number and address.

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