The number of thefts reported in Crestwood, for example, rose 70 percent, to 149 last year from 88 in 1998. Tinley Park thefts soared 57 percent, to 1,275 last year from 813 in 1998. Thefts in Palos Hills shot up nearly 70 percent, while in Lemont thefts rose 54 percent. But police attributed much of the increases to overall growth in the area. For example, reports of thefts in Orland Park, the largest and one of the fastest growing southwest Cook County suburbs, rose 4.1 percent.
Some experts warn, however, that the numbers tell an incomplete story.
By definition, the tally does not include unreported crimes. Some victims are unwilling to come forward, perhaps out of a reluctance to contend with the justice system bureaucracy or a belief that police will be unable to solve the crime, or even the desire to spare themselves embarrassment. Experts say sexual assault, in particular, is widely underreported. In areas with small numbers of reports, even a minor change can translate into a misleading jump or fall when expressed as a percentage. Figures also can be skewed because residents of one area may be far more likely to summon police for a given problem than those in another region.