Chicago's Lake View East, Lake View, Lincoln Square, Andersonville, and Roscoe Village communities are on alert after a series of commercial burglaries that occurred in the early morning hours, as reported by the Chicago Police Department. Businesses in these areas fell victim to break-ins by unidentified offenders who forcibly entered through shattered front glass windows or doors. According to the Chicago Police, once inside, the burglars made off with cash from the registers.
These incidents took place within the 19th (Town Hall) and 20th (Lincoln) Districts, with the first burglary reported on the 3700 block of N. Broadway at precisely 3:26 a.m. This was closely followed by an intrusion on the 3400 block of N. Southport Ave at 6:15 a.m., then a break-in on the 1900 block of W. Foster Ave. at 6:41 a.m., and nearly simultaneous burglaries on the 5200 block of N. Clark St. and the 1900 block of W. Addison St. at 6:43 a.m. and 6:58 a.m., respectively. To quickly investigate and potentially apprehend the perpetrators, the Chicago Police are encouraging businesses to maintain well-lit perimeters and report any suspicious activities without delay.
Witness descriptions of the perpetrators have been scarce, but they are believed to be one to two African American males, and during the time of the crimes, they were dressed in all dark colored clothing, sporting green and black hoodies, dark pants, and were also wearing black masks and gloves. Community members running businesses are being advised to proactively repair any security weaknesses, such as broken windows, doors, or locks.
Chicago authorities further recommend that if these businesses possess video surveillance, they should immediately save and duplicate any relevant footage to aid in the ongoing investigations. "If you are a victim do not touch anything, call police immediately," urges the Chicago Police alert. They also suggest that any witnesses should be asked to provide contact details, to more effectively relay information that could lead to catching those responsible. The pattern of these burglaries is unsettling and has put local commercial areas on high alert as police work to ensure the safety and security of local proprietors.
