Video shows brazen burglars shatter windows, steal cash in Northwest Side heist
Video shows brazen burglars shatter windows, steal cash in Northwest Side heist
Thieves shattered glass doors and windows at five restaurants in Chicago’s Northwest Side, stealing cash in a series of early-morning burglaries.
CHICAGO - Chicago police are investigating a string of smash-and-grab burglaries that unfolded early Tuesday morning on the city's Northwest Side, where thieves shattered glass doors and windows at five restaurants before taking off with cash.
The crimes have now been connected to similar incidents in Morton Grove, where seven businesses were targeted overnight.
Police are still looking for the offenders involved in the crime spree, and say they were driving a stolen red sport utility vehicle.
Caught on Camera
What we know:
Police are linking a dozen overnight burglaries and property damage incidents to the same crew.
The crimes unfolded minutes apart in Morton Grove and Chicago’s North Mayfair neighborhood.
Between 3:40 a.m. and 3:50 a.m. on Tuesday, Morton Grove police say a series of break-ins were reported along Dempster Street. Five businesses were ransacked while two others experienced criminal damage to property in connection with the burglaries, police said.
The burglaries and property damage incidents occurred at various stores, including several vape shops, between the 5600 block of Dempster Street and the 6100 block of Dempster Street.
Police said the group of suspects was driving a stolen car—a red 2018 Kia Sportage—and smashed the windows and doors of the businesses before stealing cash registers and products.
"It just feels violating pretty much," said Syed Shah, owner of Gold Smokes. "You wouldn’t think something like this would happen in Morton Grove, let alone on Dempster."
Gold Smokes is one of the businesses that was ransacked overnight. Shah said he closed the store around midnight and was at home around 3:40 a.m. when ADT alerted him to a burglary at his shop.
"Nothing like this has ever happened, like a break-in," Shah said. "I went to the live view of the cameras, and I see just five guys inside."
Shah provided FOX 32 Chicago with surveillance video from inside and outside his store.
Shamelessly and brazenly—despite the security alarms sounding—the thieves are seen helping themselves to merchandise and the store’s cash box, which only had about $100 inside.
Shah immediately called 911.
"From what I could tell in the videos, they probably looked like 16-ish, they were all wearing masks, hoodies, gloves," Shah said.
Within minutes, the crew had made its way to other nearby businesses.
Soon, a Morton Grove police officer spotted the suspect's car near Dempster Street and Central Avenue, but they fled from police and out of the village.
Their troubling crime spree, however, wasn’t over.
Around 4 a.m., the thieves targeted five restaurants in the Edens Collection, a shopping plaza near Foster Avenue and the Edens Expressway—about a 10-minute drive from Morton Grove.
There, store owners and employees say security is present during business hours but not overnight.
Teriyaki Madness was one of the affected businesses, and the crime was caught on surveillance video.
The footage shows a red SUV pulling up and multiple suspects stepping out. One throws a brick through the window, shattering the glass, and two men enter the store. One of the suspects opens the cash register before taking the entire box.
"Glass all over, they busted this big window," said John Ferrara, manager, Teriyaki Madness. "I had no idea until later than four other stores here were busted in."
Ferrara said police informed the restaurant’s owner of the incident early Tuesday morning. The owner reported that the thieves made off with $2,000.
Meantime, Ferrara is reassuring customers, urging them not to be deterred.
"Our customers should not be afraid to come, Teriyaki Madness is open, we have good security here during the day. Don’t be afraid, please come in, our teriyaki chicken and steak is delicious," Ferrara said.
In addition to Teriyaki Madness, four other restaurants in the plaza were burglarized: Jimmy John’s, Smashburger, Chipotle, and Tropical Smoothie Café.
According to a timeline shared by police, the Dempster Street smash-and-grabs occurred between 3:40 and 3:50 a.m., while the burglaries at the Edens Collection Plaza happened about 10 minutes later.
What's next:
No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.
Last Friday, around 3 a.m., nine Highland Park businesses were targeted in similar smash-and-grabs. FOX 32 Chicago has asked police if there is any link between that crime spree and Tuesday’s incidents, but a connection has not yet been drawn.
The Source: The information in this article was provided by the Chicago Police Department and area business owners.