Burglars Targeting Cars Outside West Suburban Preschools: Police

Police in suburban North Aurora are warning area residents after an unattended vehicle was burglarized at a preschool on Monday.

According to police, a parent went inside The Goddard School in the 300 block of Miller Drive during morning drop-off just after 8 a.m. When she returned just a few minutes later, she found that her driver’s side window had been smashed, and her valuables stolen.

The school’s owner Akhtar Zaman said parents at his other school in nearby Aurora have been targeted four times as well.

“We started sending emails to parents that even if you're coming for a minute or two - you think that it's safe but you have to lock your car and bring your keys with you.” Zaman said.

"People trust preschools, so when parents come, they don't worry about locking their cars. They're at a pre-school. Children come here and it's not the kind of place where you have to worry about if somebody's going to break in,” he added.

Zaman said the school has surveillance cameras, but they are not set up to record where the incident took place Monday.

Parents are being warned to lock their vehicles, and keep belongings out of sight, even for short stops.

"I never lock my car,” said Elizabeth Spencer, a parent at nearby Targeted School. “I actually have my laptop on my front seat right now and I thought about it as soon as I walked in. But no, I'm definitely locking my car."

Similar crimes have been reported in the area over the last few weeks, according to police, who have asked for assistance in watching for suspicious individuals or vehicles around day cares and school facilities.

Anyone with information on this or any other incidents is asked to contact North Aurora Police at (630) 897-8705, ext. 610.

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