Crime & Safety

Winnetka Police Chief: Home Burglaries 'May Continue Until An Arrest Is Made'

Chief cautions residents and encourages keeping an eye out for suspicious activity.

Patrick Kreis, Winnetka's interim police chief, warned residents that a string of home burglaries reported in the last week could continue until an arrest is made.

Kreis released a statement Friday encouraging residents to be vigilant about home security and reporting any suspicious activity to police.

in the last week. The burglaries occurred in various parts of the village. Information on three of the four incidents A fifth incident occurred Thursday morning, but no valuables were removed from the house because the resident was home at the time and saw the person run out the door. The resident was not injured.

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

Kreis' statement is reproduced below:

Four Winnetka families have been victimized in a pattern of Residential Burglaries during a one-week time frame. No one was home when the crimes were committed. Three of the burglaries occurred during daytime and one occurred overnight. Jewelry and electronics were targeted by the burglar(s). A fifth daytime incident resulted in a Criminal Trespass report after a woman discovered a suspect fleeing from her home.

I’m afraid these crimes may continue until an arrest is made. Homes have been targeted throughout the Village and it’s safe to say that we should all be on guard. It’s imperative for us to work together, Citizens and Police, if we are to stop this pattern of crimes. I encourage all residents and employees to be watchful for any suspicious activity. If you see an unfamiliar person or vehicle in your neighborhood, please give it your attention. Call us when your suspicion is raised. If possible, write down descriptions to include a license plate number of any suspicious vehicle.

Protect you home by locking windows and doors. If equipped with an alarm system, this is a great time to begin using it daily if you don’t already. Help protect your neighbors by frequently scanning their property from yours. A lurking criminal is more likely to be spotted from a distance than by someone in the home he is stalking.

Do not delay in reporting suspicious activity. Remember, if something doesn't seem right, it probably isn't. Call 911 immediately!

You can receive updates to this matter and additional Crime Alerts at “E-Winnetka” by visiting the Village’s Website at www.villageofwinnetka.org.

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


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.