Crime Stats 2009-2010: Retail Thefts Rose in Orland Park, But Fell In and Near the Mall

Although the number of retail theft arrests rose in Orland Park between 2009 and 2010, they fell significantly inside the police zone that includes , according to crime statistics analyzed by Patch.

In an area stretching from 143rd Street to 151st Street and 88th Avenue to LaGrange Road that represents one of the village’s eight patrol beats, Orland Park police logged 546 retail thefts in 2009 and 436 in 2010. Villagewide, 728 retail thefts were reported in 2009 and 737 in 2010.

Chief Tim McCarthy credited his detectives and officers, who patrol that area “quite regularly with a target response unit,” he said, as well as the daily efforts of lost prevention agents.

He also noted, “Often times if you catch a couple of sophisticated rings, it’ll push retail theft down significantly.”

Last November,

Orland Park Patch decided to review crime statistics for the zone around the mall following .

The shooter, described as a black woman with shoulder-length brown hair, fled into the mall after trying to rob a customer in the lower-level lot by the JCPenney at about 8:55 p.m. She shot the 67-year-old victim in the right arm before fleeing into the mall. She remains at large.

A debate ensued on Patch with many residents questioning whether there's been a rise in crime, in general, at or near the mall — and where those perpetrators come from.

A review of police blotter arrests involving retail theft between September 2010 and February 2011 by Patch shows that, while the majority of thefts in Orland Park take place at or near the mall, the majority of people arrested and charged with retail theft live outside the village.

Based on this six-month sample, the ratio of local to non-local arrests is about 1 to 22.

Meanwhile, on and around mall property, the number of reported domestic batteries, general burglaries and other forms of assault increased in 2010. The number of “interferences with public officers” remained steady, although they account for one-third of all such incidents in the village.

Even the number of service calls coming from or nearby the mall dropped by about 2,500. As did parking tickets, which totaled 3,141 in 2010, down from 4,362 the year prior—which could be a reflection of budget cuts that affect community service officers, McCarthy said.

A message left with an Orland Square Mall spokesman was not returned last week.

Select crimes in and near Orland Square Mall for 2009-2010:

(Source: Orland Park Police Department)

Return Tuesday for a rundown of statistics on hit and runs, controlled substance violations and other crimes.