The City of Darien and surrounding communities have experienced a spike in residential burglaries in recent weeks. The burglaries in Darien have all been during the day, occurring when residents have left their homes, often for very short periods of time. We are making this notification to alert you to the problem and to seek your assistance in apprehending the offenders.

The Darien Police Department identified a burglary pattern several weeks ago, and adjusted police patrol to focus on the burglaries. The burglaries stopped until 11/17/2014 when the police were called to four new burglaries that day.

The current burglary pattern includes:

• Most of the burglaries have occurred on a Monday.
• Many of the homes targeted were corner homes.
• Entry was made most often through sliding glass doors, by force, and the entire house was ransacked.
• In most cases smaller items and valuables were taken that could fit in a pillow case.
• The burglaries occurred in the area between I-55, Lemont Rd., Cass Ave and Plainfield Rd.

The Darien Police Department is asking residents to help keep our community one of the safest in the Chicago metropolitan area. Here are some ways to help:

• Be alert to strangers and other suspicious actions, including suspicious activity at neighboring homes. If you see ANYTHING suspicious, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY

• Be alert for cars driving repeatedly around the neighborhood, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY.

• Be alert to suspicious noises, such as glass breaking, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY.

• If strangers come to your door asking for people you don't know, DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY.

Please do not feel uncomfortable calling 9-1-1. Remember that we would rather check out suspicious activity, and find nothing, than not have you call 9-1-1 and have a residence robbed.

If you have a private surveillance video system, we are asking you to register it with the Darien Police Department. If there is a crime in your area, a member of the Darien Police Department would contact you to determine if your video surveillance system captured any images that could help with the investigation. If so, with your permission, we would download your images and inventory them, to be used in helping to solve the crime and prosecute the criminals. Please contact Stacy Sherman at 630-353-8145 or via e-mail at ssherman@darienil.gov for more information on this program.

State of Illinois requires single family and multiple family residences to have at least one approved and operating carbon monoxide alarm within 15 feet of each bedroom.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas produced during incomplete combustion of fuels, for example, natural gas, LP gas, kerosene, oil, wood, and charcoal. The gas is lethal to humans if it builds up in the home.

Carbon monoxide alarms may be battery powered, plug-in with battery back-up, or AC hard wired with battery back-up. Batteries should be changed regularly to ensure proper operation.

Carbon monoxide alarms are widely available in hardware and home improvement stores. Prices start at approximately $20.

Additional information on carbon monoxide can be found at  http://www.solutions.uiuc.edu/ or http://www.healthyindoorair.org/

School District #61 Board of Education Meeting Schedule:

December 9, 7:00 pm at Lace School

Committee of the Whole Finance Committee Meeting. Topics: Affordable Care Act Compliance

Funding on O&M Projects. Closed Session following Finance Committee Meeting to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body.

December 16, 7:00 pm at Lace School. Regular Board of Education Meeting

DuPage County Stormwater Management is encouraging residents and business owners to complete a brief survey regarding water quality in the County's waterways. Stormwater Management is conducting the survey to measure public awareness of stormwater runoff and its effect on local streams and rivers. In an effort to attain healthier waterways nationwide, public education about water quality is among activities mandated by the Clean Water Act. Responses will be used to create and modify water quality outreach materials, which are aimed at educating residents on ways to reduce pollution in the County's waterways. The end goal is to make local rivers and streams supportive of both aquatic life and recreational uses. The survey is available through the end of November at  www.surveymonkey.com/s/dpcwaterquality.

The State of Illinois has banned computers, monitors, printers, televisions, and other electronics from landfills. If any of these items are left curbside, they will not be picked up.  There are many options to responsibly recycle your electronics throughout DuPage County. Residents are encouraged to visit the DuPage County website or SCARCE for information on how to recycle electronics.