An early morning burglary at Kelsey’s resale boutique in downtown Hinsdale turned into a chaotic chase scene Tuesday, as police say they broke up a crew of smash-and-grab thieves, arrested four suspects, and watched four others get away. Store surveillance video shows a crowd pouring through the front door, scooping up merchandise and stuffing it into black garbage bags before bolting to two waiting vehicles. After a short pursuit, officers trapped one of the cars, recovered stolen items, and handed the suspects over to DuPage County authorities while detectives continued tracking the rest of the group.
Suspicious Vehicle Call Leads Police Straight Into Burglary
Just after 3:30 a.m., Hinsdale officers were dispatched to the 0-100 block of S. Washington Street for a report of a suspicious vehicle and instead found an active break-in at Kelsey’s, according to CBS News Chicago. Inside, surveillance video captured several people racing through the shop, grabbing armfuls of merchandise and cramming them into trash bags they brought with them. Police said two vehicles peeled away from the scene as squad cars rolled up, triggering a brief pursuit through the downtown area.
Getaway Car Cornered, Four Suspects Nabbed
Officers managed to box in one of the fleeing cars at Hinsdale Avenue and Village Place and quickly chased down three people who ran from the vehicle, with a fourth suspect from that same car taken into custody later in the morning, according to Patch. Several others escaped in the second vehicle, and investigators say they are now chasing down leads to figure out who they are. The normally quiet downtown business district was briefly filled with squad cars and flashing lights as officers secured the scene and collected evidence.
Boutique No Stranger to Smash-and-Grab Crews
This is not the first time Kelsey’s been hit. In 2023, a crew used a sledgehammer to bust through a store door in another overnight burglary that drew heavy police response, according to The Hinsdalean. That earlier smash-and-grab underscored how vulnerable small downtown boutiques can be to fast, coordinated thefts and prompted extra police attention on similar crimes. Local business owners and shoppers have said they are staying alert as authorities work to keep repeat offenders from treating the area like a soft target.
Cops Recover Loot, Still Hunting Remaining Crew
Police say they recovered merchandise from the car they stopped and that the four people arrested were turned over to DuPage County officials, though investigators have not yet released specific charges, as reported by CBS News Chicago. Detectives are still trying to put names to the faces of the four remaining suspects seen on surveillance and are asking anyone with information to contact the Hinsdale Police Department. Officers continue to review video and follow up on tips as they work to round up the rest of the crew.
