Friday, January 8, 2021 |   View in browser

Weekly Deployment Meeting Highlights

Return of the 'Cat' Burglars

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.

It only takes two minutes

OK, so I guess catalytic converter offenders are really thieves, but when’s the next time I can amuse myself with a pun? Fact is, the 21 catalytic converter thefts that have happened here since December 1^st are no laughing matter. There were 10 in the last week, mostly in south Evanston, targeting Toyota Prius and Honda vehicles. This is a national and even global trend. (Cities in England are reporting increases ranging from 450-2700%.) The rare earth metals in ‘cats’ – especially rhodium and palladium – are worth more per ounce than gold. Hybrids like the Prius have more precious metals in their catalytic converters than gas-powered models do. And that’s what thieves are after. 

There’s no shortage of speculation on the reasons behind the spike – plenty of cars on the street, seductive precious metal prices and the fact that a well-trained crew only needs a jack (maybe) and a pipe cutter or reciprocating saw to liberate a 'cat' in less than two minutes. Thieves can get anywhere from $50 to $100 each, and maybe more, from unscrupulous scrap dealers.

According to the EPD, most of the thefts here occur overnight, clustering, so far, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. And while Beats 75 and 76 (Evanston neighborhoods north of Church) have largely been spared, there’s no guarantee that will continue to be the case. Special patrols will be deployed during overnight hours in an attempt to curb these thefts. (For information on what you can do, see Inquiring Minds at the end of this post.)

Crime Analyst Ring and Detective Giese reported a very quiet week, not counting the 'cat’ crime wave, during the December 31 – January 6 deployment period. There were two residential burglaries, two shots fired calls, two bicycle thefts, a package theft and an aggravated battery incident. In fact, most of the arrests were related to expired or revoked driver's licenses.

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Deployment Notes – January 6, 2021

• Between 12/26 and 12/31, thieves removed catalytic converters from vehicles parked on: the 1300 block of Washington, 600 and 700 blocks of Asbury, 600 block of Linden Place, 300 block of Main, 1200 block of Judson, 1400 block of Judson, 2000 block of Dempster, 1200 block of Hull, and the 800 block of Mulford. With one exception (a Dodge), all the vehicles were Toyotas or Hondas.
• A pair of youthful bank robbers presented a note, implied a weapon and made off with an undisclosed sum of money from a Wilmette bank in the 3200 block of Lake on 1/4 around 2:45 PM. They are suspects in several recent bank robberies in the Chicagoland area, often using a lime green Dodge Challenger (no plates) as a getaway car.
• Shots fired calls can be a little suspicious around the Fourth of July or New Years since fireworks are often easily mistaken for gunfire. This was probably the case in the 1800 block of Hovland around 12:30 AM on 1/1, but a call later that day in the 1900 block of Asbury at around 5:30 PM resulted in the recovery of shell casings.
• Just one package theft reported, in the 3200 block of Thayer on 12/31.
• An altercation between two female combatants on 12/29 in the 2400 block of Oakton resulted in more mayhem when two males, attempting to break up the fight, made things worse by producing a weapon, then battering and threatening to shoot one of the women. Detectives are investigating.
• Traffic: There were 70 citations for seatbelts and 24 violations for cell phones during the winter holiday enforcement campaign. The 91 additional citations were for speeding, suspended driver's license arrests and other traffic-related offenses.
• Community Strategies officers dealt with multiple complaints and issues related to nuisance properties and neighborhood disturbances during this period. Members also attended an Evanston Homelessness Task Force meeting.
• Stolen cars in Evanston: On 12/27, a gray 2013 Chevy Cruz stolen out of Skokie and observed at Madison and Dodge, later recovered in Rogers Park, and on 1/2, a 2006 Ford Expedition located in the 1800 block of Washington stolen out of Calumet City. Also on 1/2, a Toyota Camry reported stolen out of Chicago struck a vehicle after running a red light. Officers responded to Howard and Custer when the occupants fled from the vehicle and ran south into Chicago. According to Detective Giese, there have been ties between Evanston and Calumet City in recent motor vehicle thefts.
• Residential burglaries: A resident reported that between 12/23 and 12/27, someone gained entry to a unit in the 800 block of Chicago, ransacked a file cabinet and took a bag of coins valued at $200. Between 12/31 at 11 PM and 1/1 at 1:30 AM (just 2 1/2 hours!), a front door was forced open to an apartment in the 1800 block of Hartrey where a PlayStation 4 was stolen. This was the second time the apartment had been burglarized. 

The Week Ahead

• Reminder: The EPD is in the final stages of Tier 2 accreditation through the Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ILEAP). ILEAP assessors will complete the process at EPD HQs with an on-site assessment on 1/20 and 1/21. If you’d like to participate in the process, you’re invited to offer comments to the assessment team on 1/20 between 1 and 2 PM by calling 847 866-5086. Your comments should address the department’s ability to meet the ILEAP standards, viewable online at www.ilchiefs.org.  
• They’re back. At least some of them. NU has invited first- and second-year undergraduate students back to campus this winter. They will join the 1,000 or so NU students living in University housing since fall.

Inquiring Minds: Can I keep my car safe from catalytic converter thieves?

Last week, ten vehicle owners in Evanston were unhappily surprised to hear their Toyotas and Hondas (one Dodge) rumble on start and then roar.  These are the unmistakable symptoms of a missing catalytic converter, signaling an eventual outlay of $500-2000 at a mechanic shop or dealership.

Sadly, there really isn’t a lot you can do to prevent this from happening. But here’s what I’ve learned:

• Be especially alert if you have a hybrid or an SUV. Hybrids, like the Prius, have more precious metals than other vehicles. SUVs and trucks make it easier for crooks to slide under and remove 'cats' without the use of a jack. These models are especially prone to 'cat' thefts.
• If you have a garage, this is a good time to clean it out so that you can park your car there. Don’t leave it on the street overnight if you can avoid it.
• If you are forced to park your car on the street or in a parking lot, park in a well-lit area or close to a street lamp. 'Cat' burglars, like others in the species, prefer to work in the shadows.
• Check your auto insurance coverage and deductible. Catalytic converters have to be matched to your car’s make and model; there are few, if any, economy-priced ‘one-size-fits-all’ options available. The part alone can be pricey.
• You can also purchase anti-theft devices like clamps, cages and shields (parts start at about $200) that may give your vehicle a pass when crooks look underneath it. Keep in mind that some of these devices are welded to the vehicle’s undercarriage, so there will be additional costs when it’s time for routine replacement, which is typically in 8-10 years or 100,000 miles.

Thanks, as always, to Crime Analyst Ring for her contributions to this issue.

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.