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Evanston Police Department

This week’s newsletter is a recap of major incidents reported between August 18th through August 31st, 2022. Sign up for the newsletter here.

Major Incidents

Robberies and Carjacking: Three robberies, including a carjacking, were reported over the past two weeks. On August 19th around 8:00 p.m., an unknown subject was stealing items at a store on the 2400 block of Howard. When encountered by staff, the subject confronted them with a pocket knife and fled the store with merchandise. Also on August 19th around 10:00 p.m., the victim reported delivering food to a residence in the area of the 500 block of Elmwood when an unknown subject with a gun demanded the victim’s vehicle. On August 29th at 4:15 p.m., the victim was walking in a parking lot on the 2200 block of Howard, when an unknown subject took her purse from her shoulder. The subject fled in a vehicle.

Residential Burglaries: On August 20th around 2:30 a.m., unknown subject(s) gained entry to a residence on the 700 block of Grey by unknown means and ransacked a room. Nothing appears to have been taken. On August 30th between 1:00 a.m. and 7:45 a.m., unknown subjects entered the residence on the 2700 block of McDaniel through an unsecured door and took car keys. The subjects then took the homeowners' vehicles. 

Garage Burglary:  Five garages were reported burglarized; four of the garages were unsecured. Bicycles were removed from most of the garages.

Vehicle Burglaries: Five vehicles were reported burglarized; four of the vehicles were unsecured. USC (coins) and small electronics were taken from most of the vehicles.

Motor Vehicle Thefts:  In addition to the two vehicles above, in the overnight hours between August 17th and August 18th, a black 2019 GMC Denali was taken from the 2600 block of Orrington by unknown means.

Shots Fired Calls: There were five calls of shots fired over the past two weeks; nothing was located in four of the calls. On August 25th around 8:00 p.m., the caller reported finding two shell casings on the 2200 block of Lyons. 

Catalytic Converter Thefts: Seven catalytic converters were reported stolen, and one theft was interrupted. Four of the vehicles damaged were Hondas.

Bicycle Thefts: Twelve bicycles were reported stolen. Seven of the ten bicycles were secured to bike racks or structures. Downtown bike racks/light poles continue to be the most targeted locations.

Other Information

Child Safety Seat Installation

In the State of Illinois, all children under the age of eight must be secured in an appropriate child safety seat. Child safety seats include infant seats, convertible seats (Rear-facing for infants and forward-facing for toddlers), and booster seats that are used with the vehicle’s lap and shoulder belt system. Request a child seat installation or inspection through 3-1-1.

Recovered Property

When property is recovered and turned into the police department, every reasonable attempt will be made to identify and return the property to its rightful owner. In many instances property is recovered but never reunited with its owner because there was never a report filed. If you have an item that you have lost or had stolen in Evanston, your first action should be to file a police report.

Even if you have not filed a report, you can still check with the Property Bureau during the Public Operating Hours to see if an item has been turned in. You can contact the Bureau at 847-866-5029. You can also check our list of recently recovered property online. Our listing features items of lost, abandoned, or mislaid property that has been turned in to, or recovered by, our department. This list is updated daily and allows you to easily contact us by email if you believe an item may be yours. Please remember that if you think an item is yours, you will be required to provide additional proof of ownership. Click here to check the property listings.

Gun Buyback Program

The Gun Buyback Program is an opportunity for Evanston residents to turn in a functioning firearm to the Evanston Police, and in turn, receive $100. Call 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.

Please do not bring a firearm to the police department without approval from an EPD supervisor.