Masked crews tried and failed to yank ATMs out of two storefronts in River North and Wicker Park this week, turning glass doors into jagged entry points and leaving business owners with smashed fronts and hefty repair bills.
The attempted heists are captured in a short CBS Chicago video published Thursday. The station reports the break-ins happened at businesses in the two neighborhoods and notes that no arrests had been announced. The clips have been shared widely on social media, drawing fresh attention from detectives and nearby merchants.
Two Quick Strikes Caught on Camera
In both surveillance clips, the playbook is the same: a group pulls up in an SUV, smashes the glass, then swarms the ATM. They work fast to dislodge the machine before bolting back to the waiting vehicle, leaving behind a mess of broken glass and twisted metal.
The scenes line up with a broader rise in ATM break-ins across Chicago, a trend detailed in a recent report that highlighted a police alert for similar overnight hits in other neighborhoods.
How Crews Are Getting ATMs Out
Police and local outlets say some burglary crews are bringing heavy equipment to the job, using chains, sledgehammers, and SUVs to rip machines out of their mounts. One such smash-and-grab was captured in a video published by CWBChicago, which shows a vehicle and a chain being used to drag an ATM straight through a storefront.
Even when thieves cannot crack the cash vault, the collateral damage to doors, windows, and interiors can be extensive, leaving owners to eat the costs and clean up the debris.
Police Warnings and Business Tips
Chicago police have urged business owners to double-check surveillance systems, secure ATMs with heavy bolts to floors or walls and promptly report any suspicious behavior. Some crews have been armed during past ATM thefts at local businesses, according to NBC Chicago, a reminder that the crimes can escalate quickly.
Detectives are canvassing the affected neighborhoods for more footage and witness accounts. Anyone with video or information about the River North or Wicker Park incidents is urged to preserve any recordings and submit a tip through the Chicago Police Department’s online portal at the Chicago Police Department website, or contact area detectives directly.
