THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2008

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Police Warn Residents About Recent Burglaries

Over the past few weeks, the Rolling Meadows Police Dept. has been investigating four residential burglaries in which offenders entered houses during daytime hours when no one was home.

The Arlington Heights and Palatine police departments are investigating similar crimes as well. Rolling Meadows police are encouraging residents to help officers by reporting all suspicious vehicles, persons, or circumstances. According to police, the vast majority of burglars who are arrested while committing their crimes are caught because observant neighbors called 911 immediately to report the suspicious activity.

Police said too often, neighbors of burglary victims tell police after the fact they saw someone unfamiliar at the victim's house during the crime. Suspicious activity that needs to be reported immediately includes:

* Unfamiliar vehicles parked by a neighbor's house

* Vehicles driving slowly down a street

* Unfamiliar people near, entering, or leaving a neighbor's home

* Activity at a house when you know the residents are out

* Loud noises such as yelling or screaming

* Sounds of breaking glass or loud banging as if someone is shattering a window or kicking a door, etc.