Friday, October 9, 2020   |   View in browser

Weekly Deployment Meeting Highlights

Every week, Linda Hansen attends the Evanston Police Department’s Deployment Meetings, takes notes on the topics discussed and writes about other police-related matters of interest to the people who work and live in Evanston.

Tech Tools for Thieves: Key Fob Programmers

Real bad idea

Recent reports have raised law enforcement concerns about the ability of tech-savvy crews to reprogram a vehicle's key fob to steal the car. This is called Relay Car Theft. Here’s how it works: the offenders intercept the signal being transmitted by a key fob as far as 300 feet away (in other words, the one that’s sitting on your kitchen counter) using a key fob programming device. That receiver relays the signal to another device (often a tablet) or directly to the car, allowing the offenders to unlock the vehicle and start the ignition. The CPD has alerted neighboring jurisdictions that gangs from the south side of Chicago may be responsible. (To learn how to protect your vehicle from key fob hackers/thieves, see Inquiring Minds at the end of this post.)

Crime Analyst Ring reported another light week for crime. There were five bike thefts, two motor vehicle burglaries, a residential burglary, a commercial burglary, a garage burglary and two package thefts. Issues relating to Evanston’s homeless population continue to present challenges, particularly in downtown parks. Foot patrols have been increased along Howard Street. The 24^th District (Rogers Park) was the scene of a gang-related shooting on 9/30. The victim was transported to St. Francis Hospital with a gunshot wound to his arm.

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If there are topics of interest to you, please send them our way.

Deployment Meeting– October 7, 2020

• Detectives reported that cell phone stores in neighboring communities are being targeted by thieves. A special watch has been issued for Evanston’s several retail locations.
• On 10/7, the Evanston Police Department accepted five awards from the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police. The Traffic Unit finished in a first place tie for bicycle and pedestrian safety, and a first place finish in the speed awareness category. The Unit also placed second for municipal departments with 100-250 police officers in the Traffic Safety Challenge for its efforts in 2019. Detectives Wideman and Shanas also received honors.
• On 10/4/20 around 9:30 AM, the EPD received a report that a house of worship in the 1800 block of Church had been entered through an unsecured door. The as-yet-unidentified offender smeared feces on a wall, and took a computer, camera, and a digital thermometer.
• While viewing surveillance video on 10/1 at 9 AM, the manager of an office building in the 1700 block of Church viewed a subject stealing camera equipment. Responding officers located Yoviel Gebre a few blocks away with burglary proceeds on his person. He was charged with criminal trespass and burglary and is in CCDOC with no bond.
• Citizens reported shots fired on 10/4 near Central and Ewing and on 10/1 in the 800 block of Dodge. Both areas were checked with negative results. No shell casings.
• Commander Garner reported that PST officers attended National Night Out events on 10/6, with locations in Twiggs Park, Mason Park and the Robert Crown Center. Masks were mandatory and participants maintained social distance. Did you remember to turn your porch light on? The events were postponed this year due to the pandemic. Normally, it's the first Tuesday in August.  
• Package and porch thefts: Items were taken from apartment/condo common areas in the 600 block of Hinman and the 1600 block of Ridge on 10/2 and 9/25. On 10/5, the EPD received a report of a package taken from the porch of a residence in the 1600 block of Dempster.
• On 10/1/20 around 3:45 PM, officers responded to the 700 block of Church for a man with a gun. The caller stated that two male Black subjects were circling the Farmhouse restaurant. One of the subjects was carrying a camouflage-print backpack with a black handgun inside. Officers located one of the men, but were not able to locate a handgun.
• Four of the six bicycle thefts last week were secured to bike racks downtown. A fifth was left unattended in a playground on the west end of town and the sixth was taken from an unlocked garage in the 2100 block of Pioneer.
• The Citizen Police Academy Class is in session (remotely).
• There were no arrests for domestic battery last week.

The Week Ahead

• Hanukkah may be a little more than two months away (12/10-18), but Sukkot (October 2-9) and Simchat Torah (10/10-11) are almost here. Patrols will be deployed to Evanston’s four synagogues and the Chabad House community center.
• The City of Evanston, the NUPD and EPD are gearing up for the no-fans-allowed Wildcats vs. Terrapins game on 10/24.
• Community Strategies will have an officer at this weekend’s Farmers Market.
• It’s official: Evanston's trick-or-treat hours are Saturday, 10/31 from 4 PM to 7 PM. Find helpful guidelines for celebrating safely here. 

Inquiring Minds- Tips to Keep Your Vehicle Safe from Key Fob Hackers

Your car is always listening for an electronic signal, like the coded “unlock” signal from your electronic key fob. It does this through a computer chip that creates and sends a code to your car’s security system. Since your vehicle has a chip using the same algorithm to generate codes, the door unlocks if the codes match.

Unfortunately, commercially-available relay devices make it easy to transmit these codes. There are a few ways you can protect your vehicle from falling prey to these techno-thieves. Here are a few:

1. Lock your car. Several recent car thefts right here in Evanston were the result of key fobs being left in the center console of an unlocked vehicle. So that’s for starters.
2. Take your key fob with you. Do not leave it or a spare (or a valet key) in your vehicle. Key fobs should be stashed in a safe spot to reduce any chance for interference from potential hackers.
3. Make its signal inaccessible. RFID pouches are available as signal blockers. Household hacks include wrapping the fob in foil or placing it in your microwave, fridge or freezer, but I can’t attest to those, nor will the EPD.
4. Check with your car’s manufacturer. Some late model vehicles’ signals can only be transmitted within a short distance – let’s say 10’ or so. So if your key fob is safely secured in your home, your car may be safe from relay theft.
5. Invest in established anti-theft devices like The Club. Knock-off versions can be purchased for less than $25. Even if crooks breach your car doors, they are unlikely to take the time to struggle with old-school tools like these.

Note, these suggestions are based on some research from me, an ordinary civilian who recently abandoned her beloved 1999 Honda CR-V (no fob in those years) for a 2018 Honda HR-V (chockablock with a fob, mystifying electronics and way too many tiny dashboard icons). So please – just lock your car and take your fob with you.

Gun Buyback Program

The Ongoing Gun Buyback Program allows Evanston residents to turn in an operational firearm to police at any time in exchange for $100. Residents can utilize this service by calling 311 or the Evanston Police Department non-emergency line at 847-866-5000. A police officer will pick up the unwanted firearm at the resident's address and present the resident with a voucher that can be exchanged for $100 at the City Collector’s Office located in the Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave.

Firearms should not be brought to the police department, unless prior approval has been granted from a supervisor at the police department. An officer will call the resident after a request is made for the officer to come to a person's residence and retrieve the firearm.

Property Recovered in Evanston

Think your property may have been recovered by the Evanston PD? Click here to start your search. Be sure to check out the third party service that displays items found within the last 21 days. Here's the link.

Subscribe to Evanston’s Daily Crime Report by email or view the Monthly Crime Statistics that are reported on a yearly basis to the FBI. Take a look at the Evanston Police Department Dashboard.

Let us know if you have specific questions or concerns about issues in your neighborhood. Submissions are always welcome at police@cityofevanston.org or by calling the community strategies bureau at 847-866-5019.  

If you would like to learn more about the Evanston Police Department, take an active role in community-oriented policing, and join the ranks of over 900 graduates since 1995, please visit the Citizen Police Academy webpage.  

There is no cost to anyone who lives or works in Evanston. Getting to know your police force is essential in reducing crime, building trust in the community and serving the needs of the community.

The weekly deployment report is an informational bulletin prepared by a community member that keeps citizens informed about what police do on a weekly basis. Information contained in this report is not to be considered as a media/press release. Any information considered by a media source from this bulletin needs to be verified by an official from the department. This can be done by contacting the media line at 847-866-5026.