Just before sunrise Thursday, a crew of burglars hit the Marquette Bank drive-thru ATM in Gage Park, prying it open and speeding off in two vehicles, according to Chicago police. The heist unfolded at about 5 a.m. in the 5400 block of South Kedzie Avenue. As of early Friday, there were no reported arrests, and investigators are treating the case as part of a broader wave of ATM burglaries across the city.
Police details and links to other crimes
According to ABC7 Chicago, officers said the burglars used tools such as pry bars or sledgehammers to force open the drive-thru machine. The station reported the thieves took off in a white Jeep and a dark gray Acura and noted that four similar ATM thefts were reported that same morning. Police are also tying the Gage Park break-in to nearly 30 comparable crimes in roughly a month, ABC7 Chicago reported.
Similar incidents elsewhere
Other early-morning ATM hits have been popping up across the city in recent weeks. On Jan. 29, a machine was ripped from a Brighton Park restaurant, as reported by CBS Chicago. NBC Chicago has also chronicled a string of thefts on the Northwest Side that law enforcement has linked, with groups using SUVs to hop from scene to scene. In many of these cases, police and news reports say crews strike overnight, smash their way through doors or drive-up windows, and use vehicles to haul off the stolen machines.
Bank background
Marquette Bank is no stranger to ATM trouble. As reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, many of the bank's ATMs were taken offline in 2024 after criminals physically attacked machines while the company carried out security upgrades. At the time, the bank stressed that customer accounts and data were not compromised during those outages.
Police tips and safety measures
The Chicago Police Department urges anyone with video or other information about incidents like this to use its online tip form and to call 9-1-1 if a crime is in progress. Officers have advised business owners to keep properties well lit, regularly review surveillance footage, and report any suspicious activity to investigators.
Detectives have been canvassing nearby businesses around the 5400 block of South Kedzie Avenue and reviewing surveillance video as the investigation continues, ABC7 Chicago reported. Anyone who noticed unusual activity in the area overnight is asked to contact police or submit information through the city's tip portal.
