A brazen smash-and-grab burglary at the Golden Apple diner on North Lincoln Avenue left the 24-hour spot with a shattered front and a missing ATM early Monday, according to police. Officers arrived in the pre-dawn hours to find the building heavily damaged, and so far, no arrests have been reported.
Officers were called around 3:43 a.m. to 2971 North Lincoln Avenue after an unknown vehicle plowed into the restaurant's entrance, FOX 32 Chicago reported. Police said three people in a gray Jeep Grand Cherokee drove into the building, hauled out an ATM, then jumped into a nearby black SUV and took off. Area Three detectives are handling the case.
Part of a Bigger Pattern on the North Side
The overnight hit is the latest in a run of smash-and-grab burglaries that have been hammering North Side businesses in recent months. Police and local outlets have tracked crews using stolen vehicles, sledgehammers, or pry tools to yank out ATMs, raid cash registers, or swipe merchandise, as ABC7 Chicago has documented.
Golden Apple and the Local Impact
The Golden Apple Grill & Breakfast House at 2971 N. Lincoln Ave is a long-running, 24-hour diner that draws late-night and early-morning crowds, per Eater Chicago. The crash and ATM removal left the storefront damaged and disrupted service early Monday, an unwelcome surprise for regulars who count on the spot at all hours.
Investigation Underway
No arrests have been announced, and detectives from the city's Area Three unit are leading the investigation, according to FOX 32 Chicago. Authorities have not released additional information on suspects or any recovered property.
The theft is part of a string of winter retail break-ins that have rattled North Side business owners and customers. This story will be updated as police release more details.
