Naperville homeowners who lock their cars at night are far less likely to find them broken into or stolen than a year ago. But residents who answer the phone are still losing money to scammers at a stubborn clip.
The Naperville Police Department released its 2026 Mid-Year Crime and Incident Data Report on Tuesday, Aug. 4, covering all crimes reported between Jan. 1 and June 30. The release coincided with National Night Out, which drew block parties in 36 Naperville subdivisions.
The big picture
Property crime accounts for 60% of all reported crime in Naperville. The totals held steady compared with the first half of 2025. Violent crime remains a small share of the overall picture, though the number of people reporting personal crimes ticked slightly higher year over year.
Drug and weapons offenses declined slightly from the same period in 2025, which the department's report attributed to proactive police work rather than victim-initiated calls.
Property crime: scams lead the way
Financial crimes, including scams and identity theft, now make up more than one-third (36%) of all property crime in Naperville. As we reported in July, the city lost $5 million to scams in 2025 alone.
Vehicle burglaries tell a clear story: 84% of break-ins hit unlocked cars. Of 17 vehicles reported stolen, only two showed signs of forced entry. The department urged residents to lock doors and never leave key fobs inside.
Burglaries totaled 31 in the first half of 2026. Fourteen targeted residences; the rest were commercial. Robberies remain rare: five total, two of which were bank robberies.
That number continues to trend downward.
Crimes against persons: domestic violence a persistent concern
About one-quarter of all reported crimes involved people rather than property. Of those, 92% were simple assaults or intimidation, a category that includes domestic disputes without weapons or serious injuries.
Eight criminal sexual assaults were reported. In six cases, the victim knew the offender. In the remaining two, victims declined to provide details.
Domestic violence continues to represent a significant share of personal crimes. Residents experiencing domestic violence can reach NPD Victim Advocate Gianna Trombino confidentially at (630) 305-5488 or at naperville.il.us/DomesticViolence.
What residents can do
The simplest takeaway from the data: lock your car. The 84% unlocked-vehicle figure means the vast majority of break-ins are preventable. The NPD also recommends its "9 PM Routine," a nightly checklist to secure vehicles, garages and homes.
For scam awareness, the department points residents to its ongoing community engagement events, including a Public Safety Open House on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Public Safety Campus, 1380 Aurora Ave.
City Hall ahead
- Naperville City Council — next regular meeting expected Tuesday, Aug. 18 (verify at naperville.legistar.com). Meetings stream on the city's YouTube channel.
- Will County Board — full board meeting Thursday, Aug. 20, at 9:30 a.m.
- NPD Public Safety Open House — Saturday, Sept. 26, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., 1380 Aurora Ave. Live demonstrations, food trucks, police and fire vehicle displays.
- Coffee with a Cop / Chat with the Chief — Wednesday, Oct. 7 (National Coffee with a Cop Day). Details forthcoming from NPD.
