Crime & Safety

Cook County Issues Holiday Weekend Cemetery Safety Alert

Warm weather prompts graveyard crimes, so here are some safety tips from Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart.

Who would have the audacity to rob someone's vehicle while the victim was visiting a loved one's grave? Apparently, a lot of people.

With Memorial Day approaching this weekend and warmer weather coming soon (we hope), the Cook County Sheriff's Office is pairing up with Catholic Cemeteries to raise awareness of cemetery crimes. 

In just a few weeks, last summer, 15 incidents of theft were reported at Catholic Cemeteries. In most cases thieves were stealing from vehicles that had been left unlocked while victims were a few feet away paying respects to loved ones, though there were a few incidents of windows being smashed.

Find out what's happening in Winnetka-Glencoewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart offers these tips to avoid theft:

  • Lock your car and take your keys with you;
  • Take your purse or wallet with you to the gravesite or lock them in the trunk of the car;
  • Do not leave items in plain view inside your car;
  • Keep your cell phone with you in case of an emergency;
  • If you see someone suspicious, report it to cemetery staff and/or police;
  • Travel with others while visiting a gravesite, particularly if you are elderly.

Find out what's happening in Winnetka-Glencoewith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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