Issue date: 2/22/08 Section: City

The raid was a collaboration of police officers from Evanston, Skokie and Wilmette, in addition to members of the North Regional Major Crimes Task Force.

The Evanston, Skokie and Wilmette police departments met in November to discuss a spike in area burglaries, police said. After noticing all the burglaries occurred at about the same time of day on the same days of the week, a task force was formed to investigate.

"Obviously all the police agencies involved want to unite the burglary victims with their stolen property," Elliot said. "But just as important is the message that this has sent out. In these times of budget cuts … individual towns can't isolate themselves and try to do everything on their own."

The formalized partnerships formed by this crime wave will continue, he said.

Also speaking at the press conference, Evanston Police Chief Richard Eddington highlighted the importance of the task force's efforts.

"Unless you have been the victim of a burglary or are a policeman, you have no idea the impact that has on a family's perception of safety," he said. "It's through their efforts that part of that perception of safety has been restored."

b-rosenthal@northwestern.edu

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