Media Contact: Lt. Dave Shaffer | 217-403-7030 | [email protected]
The Champaign Police Department is investigating a series of vehicle burglaries that have occurred throughout the city of Champaign. Since August 15, 2016 officers have investigated 39 burglaries to motor vehicles. The majority of these crimes appear to be occurring overnight and nearly all of the vehicles targeted have been to cars with vehicle doors left unlocked. Police are urging citizens to lock their vehicle doors and to remove any items of value.
Lt. Dave Shaffer shares that a number of the break-ins have been preventable and trusts that with the community’s assistance, we will see a decrease in the numbers.
“These burglaries are often crimes of opportunity where many suspects have only advanced to burglarize a vehicle if they’ve found it unlocked,” stated Lt. Shaffer. “We’re asking for the public’s assistance in securing your property as well as in remaining alert in your neighborhood, reporting anything unusual or suspicious to the police.”
During an in-progress emergency, citizens should call 9-1-1 immediately. If needing to file a vehicle burglary report, please call METCAD non-emergency at 217-333-8911.
If you are witness to a burglary or other crime and do not want to contact Police directly, anonymous tips can also be shared via Crime Stoppers: by calling 217-373-8477 (TIPS); reporting online at www.373tips.com; or by texting “CCTIP” plus the crime information to 274637 (CRIMES).
Lock It. Hide It. Keep It. Burglary Prevention Tips for Vehicles:
- Don’t leave vehicles running unoccupied
- Always lock your vehicle doors and take the keys with you when not in use, even in your driveway
- Do not leave spare keys in your car, even if you keep your door locked
- Do not leave unattended personal belongings in plain sight, no matter where your vehicle is parked
- Install alarms and/or “kill switch” devices in vehicles to help prevent break-in
- When leaving your vehicle, remove GPS, Bluetooth, and other equipment from plain view and lock it in your trunk
- Don’t leave mail in your vehicle with the address label visible
- At night, always park your vehicle in a well-lit and visible place
