A spike in identity thefts tied to unemployment fraud caused Naperville’s crime rate to rise in 2020, according to police department data released this week.
Violent crimes down, but Naperville sees increase in identity thefts, domestic calls A spike in identity thefts fueled a 71.5% rise in serious crime in Naperville in 2020, according to a report released Monday by the Naperville Police Department. Daily Herald file photo
Updated 2/1/2021 7:31 PM
Naperville saw an overall reduction in violent crimes last year, officials say, but the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to blame for a jump in reports of identity theft and calls related to domestic violence.
The Naperville Police Department on Monday released its 2020 crime figures, which Chief Robert Marshall said are used to develop future goals, address trends and enhance public education efforts. Law enforcement officers and community members faced a slew of unprecedented challenges last year, as evidenced by sections of the report, he said.