Sgt. Lance Koppa with the Highland Park Dept. of Public Safety is asking for HP residents to be especially vigilant about locking doors in your homes and ensuring that alarm systems are functioning correctly after a string of recent residential burglaries in the town. See his update and accompanying tips below, just published in the Blue Zone News:

We have experienced a series of residential burglaries on the east side of town with two, distinct methods of entry. One method involves forced entry, and the second involves entry via unlocked garage doors. In cases where the home alarm has been set and activated, the intruder was either frightened away or made off with a very limited amount of property. In those instances where the home alarm was not set, the intruder(s) had time to steal specific property. Our criminal investigation division has collected evidence from the burglaries and they are awaiting results from the lab. We are also looking for any connections between these offenses and offenses occurring in neighboring cities. If you remember, our detectives were able to positively link a suspect to Highland Park burglaries last year using a similar technique. That suspect, a career criminal, was arrested by HPDPS investigators and received a 30-year prison term. 

To prevent criminal activity, please do your part to reduce or eliminate the opportunity for the crime to take place. The following are important steps to crime prevention:

• Keep all doors locked.
• Make it a habit to lock the garage entry door to your home. The bad guys are breaking into cars and removing the garage door opener which may allow them entry into your home.
• Set your alarm system. If you have questions about alarm monitoring w/ HPDPS, contact Wendy Santos at 214-559-9456.
• Take a few minutes to inspect door and window locks around your home. Are they functioning properly?
• Record serial numbers of items such as desktop computers, laptops, smart phones, cameras, firearms, and bicycles.
• Take photographs of jewelry for identification purposes. 
• Do not leave valuables in plain view in your car.
• Have you updated your emergency contact information with HPDPS dispatch? If not, send an email to khall@hpdps.org, and she will update our dispatch records.

The recent burglaries have taken place during daytime hours and we are asking that you remain vigilant for suspicious activity. Dial 9-1-1 for emergencies and use our non-emergency number, 214-521-5000, for non-urgent calls in Highland Park. While what you observe may seem insignificant to you, it could lead to the apprehension of the person(s) responsible for the recent burglary offenses.