Burglars Target Kenilworth Ave. Homes

Oak Park police are reminding residents to lock their doors and secure their belongings after a series of late-night and early-morning burglaries of single-family homes in central and southwest Oak Park. 

Oak Park Police Chief Rick Tanksley said in a statement Wednesday that the burglars have been entering through back windows or doors and taken items that are nearby. 

Police reported four burglaries and burglary attempts in the 700 and 800 blocks of Kenilworth Avenue between about 7 p.m. Nov. 11 and 9:20 a.m. Nov. 12, and two burglaries on Clinton and Cuyler avenues during the same timeframe. 

Tuesday, November 12

Burglaries, Burglary Attempts

800 block, South Kenilworth Avenue
Someone entered a home in the 800 block of South Kenilworth Avenue through a kitchen window and stole a black Coach purse containing credit cards, IDs and cash between 11:45 p.m. Nov. 11 and 6:45 a.m. Nov. 12. The purse and all of its contents were recovered in an alley behind the home. The total estimated loss is $20, police said. 

800 block, South Kenilworth Avenue
Someone removed a window pane to try to break into a home in the 800 block of South Kenilworth Avenue between 10:30 p.m. Nov. 11 and 6:30 a.m. Nov. 12. No loss reported. 

800 block, South Kenilworth Avenue
Someone removed a bathroom window screen to try to break into a home in the 800 block of South Kenilworth Avenue between 7 p.m. Nov. 11 and 9:20 a.m. Nov. 12. The estimated cost of damage is $30, police said. 

700 block, South Kenilworth Avenue
Someone damaged two windows with a pry tool in an attempt to break into a home in the 700 block of South Kenilworth Avenue between 8 p.m. Nov. 11 and 8 a.m Nov. 12. The estimated cost of damage is $200, police said. 

800 block, Clinton Avenue
Someone entered an unlocked home in the 800 block of Clinton Avenue and stole an iPhone, a pair of women's sunglasses and a purse containing credit cards, checks and IDs between 8 p.m. Nov. 11 and 7 a.m. Nov. 12. The purse, credit cards, IDs, phone and checks were recovered in an alley in the 800 block of North Kenilworth Avenue. The total estimated loss is $300, police said. 

300 block, Cuyler Avenue
Someone used a pry tool to break into a home in the 300 block of Clinton Avenue and stole a leather wallet containing credit cards and cash from the kitchen counter around 5 a.m. The total estimated loss is $140, police said. 

Sunday, November 10

Burglary Attempt on Belleforte

Someone cut a window screen and broke a window in an attempt to break into a home in the 1000 block of Belleforte Avenue between 9 p.m. Nov. 8 and 11:30 p.m. Nov. 10. The estimated cost of damage is $200, police said. 

Police provided the following burglary prevention tips for homeowners to take to minimize their chances of becoming a burglary target: 

• Don’t leave items of value visible from the exterior of the home – especially from the rear door and kitchen area. 
• Ensure that all doors and windows are locked and that the locks are functioning properly.
• Use window pegs or screws so that windows cannot be moved passed a certain point from the exterior. 
• Install motion detector lights for the rear of your home to illuminate entryways. 
• Don’t leave items such as ladders, stools or lawn furniture adjacent to or near exterior windows.

Find more Oak Park and River Forest police news on Patch:

• CTA Conductor Punched in Face, Oak Park Man Charged With Public Urination
• Car Hijacking Reported in Oak Park
• Petition Seeks Trial in Kelli O'Laughlin Case
• Police Investigating Theft of 47 iPads From D97 Building

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