Above / Naperville residents and event planners appreciate the professional presence of Naperville Police and other first responders at local community events. (PN Photo)
Open Letter from Chief Arres / 2023 Mid-Year Crime and Incident Data
The Naperville Police Department recognizes that awareness is a key factor in the overall safety of a community.
Residents who are aware of the types of crimes happening in their city are more likely to practice situational awareness, report suspicious activity to police and take proactive steps to avoid victimization. For that reason, the Naperville Police Department presents the following overview of crime and incident data reported between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2023.
The majority (approximately 65%) of Naperville’s reported crime is classified as property crimes, most of which are theft, fraud (which includes identity theft) and vandalism. Crimes against persons make up approximately one-quarter of the total crimes reported in Naperville. In the first six months of 2023, crimes against persons are down while crimes against property are slightly higher than the same time the year before.
Here are a few key take-aways from the mid-year 2023 statistics…
• No homicides have occurred in Naperville in the first half of 2023.
• Most crimes against persons in Naperville fall into the category of simple assaults, and most (74%) of the simple assaults reported in the first six months of 2023 were domestic batteries.
• Twenty-three (23) vehicles were reported stolen in the first half of 2023. Ten (10) were taken from commercial locations; 13 were taken from residential locations. Two out of every three vehicles stolen so far this year are believed to have been unlocked.
• A total of 46 burglaries were reported in the first half of 2023 compared to 60 in the same period last year. Thirty (30) were commercial burglaries, 15 were residential burglaries, and there was one home invasion in which the victim knew the suspect and an arrest was made. We continue to urge residents to lock their belongings to help deter crime, as force was only used in about 13% of residential burglaries and 20% of residential motor vehicle burglaries.
• An increase in drug overdose incidents was recorded with 54 total incidents in the first half of 2023 compared to 22 the same period last year. Six were fatal. Most of these overdose incidents involved prescription drugs. Residents are encouraged to utilize Naperville’s Prescription Drug Drop Box Program to rid their homes of unused/expired prescription or over-the-counter medication to help prevent drug overdoses and abuse. Learn more at www.naperville.il.us/rxdrugdropbox.
• Fourteen (14) incidents of extortion/blackmail were reported, a significant increase compared to the 2 reported in the first half of 2022. Of the 14 incidents reported so far in 2023, 11 are sextortion cases involving teenage boys sending inappropriate pictures of themselves to an unknown person, who then threatens to release the photos publicly unless payment is made. Helpful information and resources about sextortion for both teens and caregivers are available at www.fbi.gov/sextortion.
• Incidents involving firearms have decreased slightly in the first half of 2023, with 75 illegal firearms seized in the first half of 2023 compared to 99 seized in the same period last year. Similarly, confirmed shootings within Naperville city limits are down, with five confirmed in 2023 versus 6 in 2022. However, our officers continue to find illegal firearms in the hands of people who have lost the privilege to carry them in this state, and we will continue to pursue illegal guns to keep our community safe.
As we enter the second half of 2023, we ask that residents continue to practice situational awareness and report suspicious activity or concerning behavior to our department.
As the saying goes, if you “See Something, Say Something.”
That community partnership, along with NPD’s proactive efforts, will keep Naperville one of the safest cities of its size in America.
—Police Chief Jason Arres
According to NPD Public Information, the City of Naperville’s crime and incident data from Jan. 1 through June 30, 2023, in addition to the above letter of introduction from Chief Arres, soon will be posted to the City’s website. The report also will be released via social media. (Update, July 31, 2023…The report is now available to download in a PDF file.) Find the listing “2023 MID-YEAR CRIME AND INCIDENT DATA – NAPERVILLE.” —PN
