Crime Remains Low in Deerfield

Major crime in Deerfield remained virtually nonexistent in Deerfield for the first half of 2013 as it was a year ago and the one time it happened in April, it took the police hours to apprehend the offenders.

Deerfield crime statistics for the first half of the last five years were part of the semiannual report Chief John Sliozis gave at Monday’s Village Board meeting. During that time this year, there was no homicide, arson or sexual assault and only one robbery in April.

When that armed robbery occurred at a mobile telephone store in the Village April 8, Deerfield police had the three suspects in custody within hours with an assist from the Bannockburn Police Department.

During the first half of the year there were nine burglaries and 58 incidents of theft. In the same period a year ago, the number was seven and 82 respectively. A number of those break-ins—both to homes and vehicle—occurred during the winter holiday period.

One thing which has increased significantly in 2013 is enforcement of Deerfield’s ban on the use of hand held cell phones while driving. In 2012, 81 tickets were issued along with 729 warnings when there was an emphasis on education. There were still plenty of warnings this year—933—but 622 citations were given out.

As of Jan. 1, use of a hand held cell phone while driving will be against the law throughout Illinois.

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