By Hayden Godfrey

Herald Reporter

EVANSTON — Two potential thieves are at large in Evanston after multiple home cameras spotted them allegedly stealing from cars near North Elementary School in Evanston.

A video recorded by Evanston resident Lindsi Cendejas’ Vivint home camera shows two young males wearing masks and gloves walking into her driveway at 12:15 a.m. Saturday before one shines a flashlight into a parked vehicle and says, “This car’s unlocked.”

Cendejas provided the footage to the Herald, which reviewed the recording.

The second figure stands behind the vehicle and watches the road while the first searches the car for valuables. After apparently finding nothing, the pair begin walking toward an all-terrain vehicle parked next to the car, but Cendejas’ camera beeps and causes them to hastily leave the driveway.

In a message to the Herald, Cendejas said the car the two searched was wrecked following a T-bone collision three weeks ago, so there was nothing in the vehicle at the time of the incident. A truck in the driveway and a work car parked on the street were not searched, nor were any in the next driveway, which Cendejas said was full of cars.

Roku camera footage posted on Facebook from near South Valley Drive by another resident, Rachel Nichols, shows what appears to be the same pair approach and perform a similar search. The first suspect, wearing a short-sleeved red Colorado shirt and dark bandana, shines a flashlight into one car, then moves to another while the second suspect follows behind in a dark shirt and similar mask. The red-shirted suspect searches a second car as the video ends.

Multiple commenters reported seeing individuals in their driveways and garages around Evanston.

Cendejas offered a reward to anyone who can identify the thieves.

"We’ve had five vehicles over the weekend. We’re working it right now, these are still active cases," Evanston Police Chief Mike Vranish told the Herald.

He said to make sure to lock your vehicles and don't leave anything valuable in them. 

"Almost 95% of the time it's an unlocked car," Vranish said.  He also said these instances seem to come in waves, peaking in winter around Christmastime.

The Evanston Police Department is asking community members to help. You can do so anonymously through CrimeStoppers and earn up to a $1,000 reward. If you have any information that may be helpful, you can call 307-789-CASH (2274).