Burglars Target Gym Parking Lots in Burr Ridge

"Don't leave valuables in plain view. It literally takes seconds to smash a window," said Burr Ridge Deputy Police Chief Tim Vaclav.

Vaclav said the reason thieves seemed to be targeting these two lots repeatedly is because of the large number of vehicles in close proximity, which not only provide opportunity, but cover for thieves.

"Most people don't really notice things going on between cars," said Burr Ridge Deputy Police Chief Tim Vaclav. "The vehicles are so close together that it's easy for individuals to hide around there."

Detective Seargeant Marc Loftus said that the thieves are checking car doors to see if owners have forgotten to lock them and watching to see what people are carrying when they enter the gym.

"It may sound like a stereotype, but women are being targeted," said Loftus. "If you're getting out of the car to go into the health club without a purse, the obvious assumption is that you've left the purse in the car."

Loftus said gym members themselves are not in any danger in the parking lots. This is because the thieves are just looking for quick, easy targets. That is why if someone has to leave valuables in the car, it's best to lock them in the trunk.

"Get [valuables] off your seat, get it out from under your seat or behind your seat. Lock the glovebox," said Loftus.

Loftus said most of the crimes seem to take place between 10 and 11 a.m. and between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Deputy Chief Vaclav said that people who go to the gym can help police catch the thieves by keeping their eyes open.

"The biggest help would be for people walking through the parking lot who observe something suspicious to call us right away," said Vaclav. "We don't want them to confront anybody. Just call 9-1-1. Don't have to walk toward them, just act like you're going about your business and call it in."

A breakdown of the car burglaries that have taken place in the past two years:

Date of Burglary Time Reported to Police Type of Car What Was Stolen Method of Entry Parking Lot Location 9/7/10 10:16 a.m. Toyota GPS and other items front window smashed Lifetime Fitness, 601 Burr Ridge Parkway 9/20/10 10:33 a.m. (crime took place sometime between 9 and 10:30 a.m.) Mazda purse rear passenger window broken Lifetime Fitness, 601 Burr Ridge Parkway 9/20/10 10:43 a.m. (crime took place sometime between 9:10 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.) Honda purse, small tote bag of CDs, Garmin GPS passenger window broken Lifetime Fitness, 601 Burr Ridge Parkway 9/20/10 10:46 a.m. Toyota van purse rear passenger window broken Lifetime Fitness, 601 Burr Ridge Parkway 9/20/10 11:06 a.m. Chevy van purse front drivers side window broken Lifetime Fitness, 601 Burr Ridge Parkway 9/20/10 11:14 a.m. (crime took place sometime between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.) 2009 Buick purse rear drivers side window broken Lifetime Fitness, 601 Burr Ridge Parkway 9/20/10 11:17 a.m. (crime took place sometime between 9:05 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.) Ford purse rear passenger side window broken Lifetime Fitness, 601 Burr Ridge Parkway 10/21/10 5:37 a.m. (crime took place sometime between 4:20 a.m. and 5:30 a.m.) 2003 Toyota I-Touch, cell phone charger front passenger window broken Lifetime Fitness, 601 Burr Ridge Parkway 10/21/10 5:57 a.m. (crime took place sometime between 4:10 a.m. and 5:30 a.m.) 2010 Lexus purse rear passenger window broken Lifetime Fitness, 601 Burr Ridge Parkway 3/23/11 5:05 p.m. 2008 Volvo purse, makeup bag front passenger window broken Lifetime Fitness, 601 Burr Ridge Parkway 5/5/11 8:42 p.m. (crime took place sometime between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.) 2003 Lexus vinyl bag containing umbrella and pair of Prada sunglasses front passenger window broken Lifetime Fitness, 601 Burr Ridge Parkway 6/15/11 6:45 a.m. (crime took place sometime between 4:45 a.m. and 6:35 a.m.) Honda purse, other items front drivers window broken Lifetime Fitness, 601 Burr Ridge Parkway 8/15/11 5:05 p.m. (crime took place sometime between 11 a.m. and 3:45 p.m.) 2007 Mazda small dart case front passenger window broken Lifetime Fitness, 601 Burr Ridge Parkway *4/14/10 12:02 p.m. 2008 Cadillac purse rear passenger window broken Five Seasons Sports Club, 6901 Madison Street 9/29/10 11:27 a.m. Mercedes purse right rear window broken Five Seasons Sports Club, 6901 Madison Street 10/3/10 9:31 a.m. BMW wallet, Jensen AM/FM/CD stereo vehicle unlocked Five Seasons Sports Club, 6901 Madison Street 12/10/10 11:09 a.m. (crime took place sometime between 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.) 2005 Infiniti Garmin GPS passenger side window broken Five Seasons Sports Club, 6901 Madison Street 12/14/10 8:34 p.m. (crime took place sometime between 5:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.) 2002 Ford vehicle's stereo removed front passenger window broken Five Seasons Sports Club, 6901 Madison Street 12/15/10 10:02 p.m. (crime took place sometime between 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.) BMW Tom-Tom GPS front passenger window broken Five Seasons Sports Club, 6901 Madison Street 12/18/10 9:42 p.m. (crime took place sometime between 7:47 p.m. and 9:42 p.m.) 2000 Toyota GPS, MP3 player front passenger window broken Five Seasons Sports Club, 6901 Madison Street 12/21/10 1:50 p.m. (crime took place sometime between 2000 Honda Pioneer radio, Garmin GPS vehicle unlocked Five Seasons Sports Club, 6901 Madison Street 1/10/11 10:55 a.m. 2006 BMW Garmin GPS front drivers window broken Five Seasons Sports Club, 6901 Madison Street 8/26/11 4:49 p.m. (crime took place sometime between 2:50 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.) 2007 Nissan Coach purse (black) rear window broken Five Seasons Sports Club, 6901 Madison Street

*Offender in this incident was arrested.