Businesses in the West Jackson Blvd District neighborhood are on high alert following a series of burglaries. According to the Chicago Police Department, the break-ins occurred in the 012th District (Near West), with the unknown perpetrator gaining entry through a methodical rooftop approach. The incidents involved the assailant entering establishments via air ducts, dropping into the premises, and swiftly making off with tobacco products and cash proceeds from the registers.
The pattern emerged on the 2700 block of W. Madison Ave., where two burglaries were recorded; the first took place on May 30, at about midnight, and the second on June 8 at approximately 1:30 a.m. Climbing onto the roof and intruding through the air duct, the thief carried out the crimes stealthily while leaving behind little evidence.
As per the Chicago Police Department, the suspect is a male, approximately 5'8" tall and believed to be between 35 and 45 years old. He was last seen wearing a Chicago Bears knit cap in blue, orange, and white with a pom-pom on top, along with a black hooded sweatshirt and black pants. Local entrepreneurs and witnesses have been put on guard and are encouraged to remain vigilant as law enforcement seeks to clamp down on the commercial marauder.
Local authorities advise proprietors to take preventive measures such as ensuring the perimeter of properties is well-lit and immediately repairing any structural vulnerabilities like broken windows, doors, locks, or ceilings. If available, the use of video surveillance can be crucial, and business owners should keep the footage of any such incident on hand for investigating detectives. If you become a victim, "do not touch anything, call police immediately," asserts the police advisory. And capturing witness contact information could be the key to a breakthrough in these unresolved cases.
