Are Nighttime Home Burglaries Part of a Bigger Pattern?

Written by Rick Nagel

Naperville police reported a number of burglaries similar to those that took place this month in Batavia — in which the burglars struck at night while residents were sleeping in their homes.


In Naperville, police are looking for help after a number of residences were burglarized while the homeowners were asleep.

Police said residential break-ins were reported overnight between Tuesday, Aug. 20 and Wednesday, Aug. 21 in the area of Lakewood Circle and Three Farms Avenue in northwest Naperville.

Batavia residents were concerned about a spate of home burglariesbetween Aug. 5 and Aug. 14. Subsequently, Batavia police arrested four people on charges related to the home burglaries.

Another home burglary was reported in the Batavia police blotter on Aug. 19.

Batavia saw a similar increase in burglaries in 2012, at almost the same time of year. In late July, various items worth a total of about $56,000 were taken from Batavia homes, cars and businesses over a two-week period, including laptops and other electronic devices.

In the recent Naperville cases, thieves stole small electronics and cash after entering the homes through an unlocked door while the homeowners were sleeping, police said. Similar burglaries occurred farther north on the same night in the area of Paddington Avenue and Paxton Drive, according to Naperville police. 

Six other Naperville burglaries were reported in August, two of which occurred overnight on Aug. 14 at two separate day care centers in Naperville. 

Police said $672 was stolen after thieves pried open the office door of a day care in the 800 block of Benedetti Drive. Once inside, a desk drawer was forced open and money was taken. 

On the same night, an office door of a Kindercare, 1228 West Ogden Ave., was kicked in and a money box was pried opened but nothing was reported taken, police said. 

Earlier this month, police said a home was broken into Monday, Aug. 5 between 10 a.m. and noon in the 200 block of DiLorenzo Drive. Then, just days later another burglary occurred one mile away in the 600 block of Alexandria Court. on Aug. 9 between 7:15 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

Of the four people arrested by Batavia police in connection with the Aug. 5-14 burglaries, three were from Batavia and one from Aurora.

At the time of the arrests, Batavia police emphasized that the case remains open as an "active investigation" and encouraged residents to continue to close and secure their residences, particularly during the nighttime hours and hours when residents are not at home.

"They're going in and taking basically electronic items — small electronic devices and cell phones," Batavia police Detective Sgt. Shawn Mazza said prior to the arrest.