In the summer of 2009 the Village of Rochester began experiencing a dramatic increase in burglaries. From June 1^st through August 31^st during the summer of 2008 to the summer of 2009 the Village went from just three (3) burglaries up to eighteen (18); this number increased again during the summer of 2010 to twenty-three (23). These crimes included residential burglary, burglary to a motor vehicle, and burglary (which includes burglary to an unattached garage, out building or business).  After further investigation and collaboration with other agencies, the department realized that suspects who were committing these offenses resided outside of the community. The majority of the Rochester residents targeted in these burglaries had vehicles with their doors left unlocked and garages where doors were left up, or unsecured. Understanding these factors, the department began to take steps to deter these crimes.

This chart depicts the number of burglaries the Rochester Police Department has experienced since the summer of 2001. The data measures the number of burglaries by year from June 1st through August 31st.

During the summer of 2010 the Rochester Police Department worked along side detectives with the Springfield Police Department to identify suspects living outside of Rochester responsible for committing these crimes. Realizing that other small towns were falling victim to this tactic as well, the Springfield Police Department formed a multi-agency task force to identify and apprehend this ring of burglars; Rochester’s investigator, Corporal Jon Schwartz, was a member of this task force. With the assistance of the Springfield detectives, Rochester officers were able to solve many of their crimes.

The department turned to the community in the spring of 2010 for help with preventing these burglaries. Officers began a new program called the “Community-Police Partnership Program,” which aimed to inform community members on what types of suspicious behavior to be looking out for, as well as offering advice on how to prevent residents from becoming victims. Alongside this initiative, the department began employing new resources to educate the community. New tools such as the department’s facebook page, twitter and nixle accounts, and a new website enabled officers to push up-to-date information out to the public in a timely manner. The Rochester Times and The State Journal Register were very crucial with helping the department to build the awareness of the public and gain a following on these sites, making them much more effective.

To further deter these crimes, officers began ramping up patrols and contact with the public in an effort to forge partnerships, harden the community, and enhance visible police presence within the Village. This was accomplished primarily through directed patrols and increased traffic enforcement. In addition to this, officers began notifying residents who left their garage doors up at night in an effort to prevent crimes of opportunity within the community. The proactive efforts of the officers proved highly effective and were well received by community members. These efforts have prompted the community to become more cognizant of securing their homes and reporting suspicious behavior to law enforcement.

With these new partnerships, resources and a little luck, the summer of 2011 proved very rewarding for the department’s prevention efforts. The number of burglaries dropped from twenty-three (23) during the summer of 2010 down to zero (0) this past summer. The department would like to thank the Rochester Times, the State Journal Register, and the Springfield Police Department for their continuing support and assistance; these crucial partnerships greatly enhance the department’s outreach and effectiveness. Rochester officers plan to continue prevention efforts this spring by introducing a short informational series of videos with tips on how residents can make their homes more secure and less attractive to burglars.

*On 09/06/11, a vehicle driven by Ryan Prentice of Rochester was stopped.  Prentice was ticketed for allegedly driving while his license was suspended.

*Branden Vaughn, of Pawnee, was stopped on 09/07/11 while travelling on Route 29.  During the course of the stop officers learned that Vaughn had allegedly been driving while his license was suspended.  He was cited for the reported offense.

*A stop conducted on 09/08/11, resulted in the driver, Ashley Chelbus of Taylorville, being ticketed for allegedly driving on a suspended license.  Chelbus was also cited as she reportedly was unable to provide proof of insurance on her vehicle.

*A check on the registration of a vehicle revealed that the owner, Edith Moore of Mount Auburn, had her driving privileges suspended.  Moore was eventually stopped by an officer on 09/13/11, and ticketed for the alleged violation.

*An officer was sent to a residence on Taft Drive on 09/13/11 at 7:55p.m. for a reported dog bite.  The officer met with the victim and the dog owner.  The victim stated she had been delivering flyers to residences in the neighborhood and was bit as she was leaving one of the houses.  There was not any visible injury suffered by the victim.  Sangamon County Animal Control was contacted and they came to the scene.

*On 09/19/11, at about 4:30p.m. an officer was sent to an address in the Park Forest Subdivision in reference to a possible overdose.  The officer arrived at the residence and met with the person who had called.  The officer learned that a relative had shown up at the caller’s house and there was concern for the relative’s mental state due to his recent behavior.  An ambulance was contacted and the subject was transported to the hospital for an evaluation.

*Jacob Miller of Taylorville was stopped on 09/30/11, for allegedly driving while his registration was expired.  During the course of the stop, it was discovered that Miller was also reportedly driving on a suspended license.  Miller was ticketed for the alleged violations.

*Sangamon County Dispatch received a call on 09/30/11, at about 10:00p.m. in reference to a subject who had reportedly taken some pills and was threatening suicide.  Officers, along with EMS personnel, were sent to a residence in the Park Forest Subdivision to check on the subject.  Contact was made with subjects who were present at the residence.  The patient, who was conscious and alert at the time, was eventually transported to the hospital for further care.

* On 10/01/11 at about 12:30p.m. a vehicle being driven by Melvin Tyus of Effingham was stopped.  It was reported that Tyus was stopped due to his registration sticker being expired.  During the stop, it was learned that Tyus was wanted on a warrant which had been issued by authorities with Effingham County.  Tyus was arrested and taken to the Sangamon County Jail.

*A burglary to a motor vehicle incident was reported to the police on 10/07/11.  The incident occurred in the 100 block of East Main sometime after 7:00p.m. on 10/06/11.  The victim stated that the vehicle had been parked in the garage.  Suspect(s) reportedly entered the unlocked     garage and made entry into the unlocked car.  Two pairs of sunglasses and two prescription bottles were taken.

*A resident in the Camelot Subdivision contacted the police on 10/06/11 at about 12:05p.m. when she realized someone had entered her house while she was home.  The victim told police that while she was in her bedroom she heard someone enter the house through the back door.  She yelled to the person, asking who was there, but received no response.  She then heard someone leave through the front door.  She reportedly looked out of her window and observed a white male get into an S-10 Chevrolet truck.  The victim recognized the vehicle and the suspect and followed the vehicle while contacting the police.  Officers arrived and took a 16 year-old juvenile into custody for the alleged burglary.  The victim’s property was recovered from the suspect.  Reports have been forwarded to the Sangamon County Juvenile Authorities.

*Two criminal damage to property incidents which occurred in the Wyndmoor Subdivision were reported during the month of October.  The first incident was reported on 10/01/11, while the second was on 10/31/11.  In both cases blue spray paint was used to paint graffiti on various items.

*A hit and run accident was reported to the police on 10/10/11.  The incident occurred at approximately 1:00 a.m. at several locations in the Meadows Subdivision.  The suspect vehicle struck 2 parked vehicles, a brick light fixture standard, a trailer and several mailboxes before leaving the subdivision.  Substantial damage was sustained to the victim’s vehicles as well as the suspect vehicle evident by the trail of debris left by the suspect vehicle.  The noise from the crash awakened one of the victims who immediately went outside to see what had occurred.  Officers arrived, but were unable to locate the suspect vehicle.  The following day a report came in of a vehicle parked along Route 29 about 6 miles south of town which had extensive front end damage.  According to reports, this vehicle was eventually linked to the accident scene.  The suspect vehicle was registered to Timothy Lynch of Springfield.  Lynch was eventually ticketed for several alleged violations.

*A burglary to a motor vehicle which reportedly occurred on 09/22/11, was reported to the police on 10/13/11.  The victim stated he was doing some construction work at an address on Vernon Drive on 09/22/11.  He claimed he later noticed several tools were missing and believes that the burglary happened between 11:30a.m. and 12:30p.m. on 09/22/11.  More than $5000 in tools has been reported as stolen.

*An officer stopped to assist a motorist on 10/16/11, at about 2:00p.m. on Route 29.  The officer reported that he observed a vehicle parked on the shoulder of the road and he stopped to check on the motorist.  A check of the vehicle registration revealed that the owner had a suspended driver’s license and was wanted on a warrant which had been issued by Sangamon County authorities.  Robert Schnoor, of Springfield, was arrested in reference to the outstanding warrant.

*Darlene Hobbs, of Edinburg, was stopped on 10/19/11, at 12:25p.m. and ticketed for allegedly driving on a suspended license.

*Hoy Copelin, of Taylorville, was cited on 10/24/11, at 1:45p.m. for reportedly driving on a suspended license.

*Several citations were issued to Melissa Ellis, of Boring, Oregon, on 10/28/11, at 11:40a.m.  Ellis was reportedly stopped for an alleged speeding violation.  During the stop, the officer was informed that the subject’s driver’s license out of Oregon had been suspended.

*A stop of a vehicle on 10/29/11, at 12:00p.m. resulted in the arrest of the driver, Jacob Gideon.  Police reports indicate Gideon had an outstanding warrant for his arrest which had been issued by Christian County authorities.

September and October Criminal Incidents:

Burglary from Motor Vehicle – 1; Criminal Defacement – 2; Deceptive Practices – 1; Identity Theft – 1; Residential Burglary – 1; Telephone Harassment – 3; Violation of Orders of Protection — 2; Warrant Arrests – 3

September and October Traffic Incidents:

Accident Investigations – 6; Hit and Run – 1;  Improper Lane Usage – 1; Miscellaneous Violations – 5; No Drivers License – 1; No Registration – 10; Operation of Uninsured Motor Vehicle – 29; Operating While Registration Suspended – 5; Seat Belt Violations – 6; Speeding – 62; Suspended/Revoked Drivers License – 17; Warnings for Equipment Violations – 142; Warnings for Moving Violations – 190

September and October Calls For Service:

Animal Related Calls – 11; Assist Other Police Agencies – 31; Assist Other Governmental Agencies – 26; Building Checks – 23; Burglar Alarms – 21; Business Checks – 144; Citizen Assists – 87; Disturbance – 2;  Domestic Trouble – 3; Loud Noise Complaints – 2; Mental Cases – 3; Mischievous Conduct – 4; Motorist Assists — 18 Suspicious Auto / Person – 6; Traffic Control – 6; Vacation Checks — 315

The Rochester Police Department would like to thank the members of the community for stepping forward and providing information about the hit and run incident that occurred on Taft Drive earlier this week.

Shortly after requesting the community’s help in locating the suspect vehicle, several tips came in which enabled us to locate a vehicle which may be involved. The vehicle and debris will be compared by analysts to determine if it is indeed the suspect vehicle.

Again, thank you for your support and partnership in keeping Rochester safe, we will keep the community updated as the case develops.

On Friday September 16, 2011 the Rochester Police Department is expecting a record turnout for the Rochester vs SHG football game.

School Parking should fill up quickly and we are expecting the adjoining neighborhoods to experience a dramatic increase in on street parking. We are asking fans to arrive early, car pool when possible, and ensure that they are legally parked.

RHS Student Council’s RocketPalooza will be going on from 4:00 – 6:30 PM on the tennis courts next to Rocket Stadium. Game kick off is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

The Rochester Water Department has issued a boil order for residents of Grove Park as well as residents living on the South Side of the 700 block of West Main Street. This boil order remains in effect until further notice.

West Main street is again open to normal traffic.

The Rochester Police Department will be teaming up with the Sangamon County Circuit Clerks Office in presenting an outreach program to the Rochester Community on Saturday, September 10th, from 10:30 AM until 1:30 PM. The program will be held in the Rochester Community Room located at the Village Hall/Library Complex at 1 Community Drive in Rochester.

The Police Department will be providing child I.D. cards and taking fingerprints of the children in attendance so that parents may have these valuable resources available to them. The police will also be handing out free gun locks to promote weapons safety within the community. The Circuit Clerk ‘s staff members will be available to explain the graduated driver’s license program, discuss orders of protection, no-stalking and no-contact orders, and provide information about civil and family court as well as how to use the circuit clerk’s website to access records.

With the resurfacing of Route 29 you may have noticed the traffic lights seem to take longer to cycle. During the construction phase the lights had to be placed on a set timed mode and the sensors had to be removed; now that the construction has been completed these sensors can be reinstalled.

You also may have noticed Egizii Electric crews installing these sensors at intersections on Route 29 through town the past few days. When complete, these sensors will allow the stop lights to more efficiently adjust to traffic flow and help to shorten your wait time.

The project is estimated to take no longer than a week or two to complete.

We are pleased to report that Nixle, as you remember it, is back!

Nixle has indefinitely extended Nixle Connect, free of charge, to public service agencies across the United States.

The department has been utilizing this platform since January 1^st of this year to deliver targeted SMS and e-mail messages to subscribed residents about everything from water main breaks to community information.

We are very excited to have this valuable tool once again available to us! Since we began utilizing Nixle at the beginning of this year we have sent out 33 alerts to residents within the Rochester area.

This tool, combined with our social networking accounts, enables us to deliver important information directly to residents quickly and efficiently.

If you have not already, and are interested in subscribing for Nixle alerts, follow this link and complete the registration process.

Criminal Incidents / Reports

Aggravated Assault – 2; Assault – 1; Battery – 5; Criminal Damage to Property – 5; Domestic Battery – 4; Identity Theft – 1; Illegal Consumption of Alcohol – 1; Resisting / Obstructing a Peace Officer – 1; Theft Under – 1; Theft Over – 3; Warrant Arrests – 4

Traffic Incidents / Reports

Accident Investigations – 3; Failure to Reduce Speed – 1; Improper Use of Registration – 1; Miscellaneous Traffic Offenses – 5; No Drivers License – 4; No Registration – 9; Operation of Uninsured Vehicle – 42; Operation While Registration Suspended – 5; Seat Belt Violation – 9; Speeding – 52; Suspended / Revoked Drivers License – 16; Warnings for Equipment Violations – 132; Warnings for Moving Violations – 159; Zero Tolerance – 1

Calls for Service

Animal Related Calls – 9; Assist Other Governmental Agency – 29; Assist Other Police Agency – 34 Building / Business Checks – 198; Burglar Alarm – 21; Citizen Assists – 112; Curfew – 1; Disturbance – 6; Domestic Trouble – 5; Mental Cases – 4; Mischievous Conduct – 1; Motorist Assists – 47; Neighborhood Trouble – 2; Suspicious Auto – 6; Suspicious Person – 12; Vacation Checks – 367

Around 3pm this afternoon portions of the Rochester area were hit with power outages.

Outages at the Police Department triggered the back-up generator and left both the Village front offices and the Rochester Public Library without power. Also impacted were Sherry Lane and Walberta Drive, as well as the gas pumps at Phillips 66.

Subway, Hometown Proud, and the inside of Phillips 66 ARE still with power and open at this time.

Ameren told Village employees checking on the problem that our area is experiencing spotty outages, but could not provide a time to have power back to normal.