Chicago's North and Northwest side business owners woke up this week to shattered glass, plywood, and police tape after a coordinated wave of overnight smash-and-grab burglaries that has detectives sounding the alarm. In a series of predawn hits, masked crews smashed through storefront windows, grabbed cash drawers and merchandise, then tore off in waiting cars before officers could arrive. Merchants from Avondale to Old Town are now staring at repair bills and cleanup costs while police ask anyone with tips to step up.
What Police Say
Chicago police issued a community alert after at least six break-ins between Sunday night and early Tuesday, according to CBS Chicago. The station lists incidents on West Diversey in Avondale and on North Milwaukee in Jefferson Park, and details hits or attempts at Gold Coast Market in River North as well as restaurants in Lakeview and Old Town. Investigators told reporters the crews typically include five people, with one staying behind in a getaway car, and that suspects used sledgehammers to smash display glass. Authorities urged anyone with information to contact Belmont or Grand Central detectives or submit an anonymous tip with reference number 26-CWP-006.
Where Storefronts Were Hit
Old Town Pub was among the businesses hit early Tuesday. ABC7 Chicago reports two suspects broke a window and got inside before fleeing north in a silver or gray SUV. The outlet notes it was not yet clear whether anything was taken from that location and that Area Three detectives are investigating. Nearby merchants spent the next morning sweeping up shattered glass, boarding broken windows, and trying to tally the damage. Several business owners asked neighbors and customers to review any overnight security footage and to report anything that looked off.
Lakeview, River North Incidents
In Lakeview, a group used a sledgehammer to smash into Neva Hangry and remove a cash register, CBS Chicago reported. The same report says three men tried to force their way into Gold Coast Market on West Chicago Avenue but left after causing heavy damage, fleeing in a gray hatchback. Surveillance stills from other hits show the crews moving fast as they grab registers or try to dislodge ATMs, then sprint back to a waiting vehicle. Detectives told reporters they are combing through hours of camera footage to trace the crews' movements and pin down the vehicle.
Not an Isolated Trend
Merchants and public-safety watchers say these latest break-ins fit a broader pattern of coordinated smash-and-grab attempts on the North Side this month. Earlier in February, smash-and-grab ATM crews were reported trying to yank cash machines from storefronts in River North and Wicker Park. Citywide reporting has traced similar crews hitting neighborhoods from Jefferson Park to Wicker Park in recent months, often using stolen or rented SUVs and working in teams. Business groups say the recurring method — smash glass, take cash or an ATM, then flee — is pushing more owners to invest in sturdier gates, brighter lighting, and upgraded cameras.
Video Shows How Brazen the Crews Are
Local TV clips and shared surveillance footage show just how quickly the groups operate: smash, seize, go. Reporting tied to footage shared with WGN and published through AOL captured thieves throwing a brick through a glass front, dragging a register toward a waiting red SUV at a Northwest Side plaza, and leaving multiple storefronts littered with broken glass and scattered merchandise. Business owners told reporters that while video has provided leads, many systems are not sharp enough to capture license plates or faces clearly. Merchants say they are now weighing costly repairs and security upgrades while detectives work to make the next arrest.
Police and neighborhood groups are urging business owners to preserve any video and to report suspicious activity. Local coverage notes detectives regularly ask for footage and eyewitness accounts. The Chicago Sun-Times and other outlets say detectives often request video and can be reached through area detective units or via CPDTIP.com. Merchants say the immediate burden of repairs and lost sales is a heavy hit to small operations already dealing with inflation and staffing challenges. Investigators continue canvassing the affected neighborhoods and have urged anyone who saw a light-colored Subaru or other suspicious vehicle in the early-morning hours to contact detectives with tips.
