Police are warning that a national crime network of auto burglars could be back in the Chicago area and may be targeting suburban vehicles.
Northbrook police issued an alert Tuesday urging drivers to remove valuables from their cars or lock them in trunks “even if you will only be away from the car for a few minutes.”
Police said an increase in recent car burglaries is suspected to be the work of the “Felony Lane Gang,” a crew of auto burglars that has been active in the Midwest and across the nation in the past.
“They break car windows to steal purses and wallets, specifically targeting cars in parking lots of schools, day care centers, golf courses, parks, and exercise facilities,” the alert read. “Often, they use the stolen checks and ID’s to withdraw funds from the bank accounts of the victims.”
Northbrook police said the thefts are taking place in numerous Chicago suburbs.
The gang is currently active in at least 34 states, crime analysts told NBC Washington in April.
Earlier this year, police reported the gang had stretched into metro D.C. and has spread north from South Florida over the last 10 years.
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Northbrook police urge anyone who sees suspicious activity to call 911 "immediately."
