Police Arrest 5 Men in Recent Parking Lot Robberies—Parking Lot Safety Tips

The Bolingbrook Police arrested five men after an investigation into three armed robberies that occurred Feb. 22 and 29. In each case, a man or men entered vehicles in retail parking lots and demanded money at gunpoint.

Two of the incidents occurred on Boughton Rd. in the shopping center on the NE corner of Boughton Rd. and Janes Ave., while the third took place on Weber Rd. in Romeoville. The victims in two incidents were men and the third was a woman.

In all three incidents the suspects entered the back seat of the vehicle while the victims were sitting in their unlocked cars, talking on cell phones. In two out of three of the incidents the victims were held at gunpoint, while required to drive to ATMs and withdraw cash. The third victim fled the vehicle and the suspects escaped. Full story available at http://cbs2chicago.com/westsuburbanbureau/bolingbrook.robberies.romeoville.2.677945.html

While it appears that this string of crimes has been solved, incidents like these in our own backyard, bring to mind the issue of safety in parking lots. The following tips from personal safety experts may be helpful for us, and our driving age children to review:
· Park in a well lit area
· Be prepared from the time you leave the store, have your keys in hand
· Do not talk on cell phone or have your iPod’s buds in your ears
· Be aware of your surroundings and remember where you parked
· Look into your car, passenger side floor, backseat
· Quickly put your packages in your car, get in and LOCK your doors
· As soon as you get in your car, LOCK the doors and LEAVE
· Do not sit in the parking lot talking on cell phone, putting on make-up, eating, etc.
· If you see a suspicious person or vehicle in the parking lot or if you feel you’re being followed return to the store, restaurant etc. and seek assistance

Additional safety information is available at http://www.bobstuber.com