Pellys Liquor Store in Roscoe Village became the latest casualty in a predawn smash-and-grab early Thursday, leaving its front window wrecked and its staff rattled. Police say a crew stormed the shop, grabbed merchandise and took off in an SUV. So far, no arrests have been announced, and Area Three detectives are now on the case while neighbors and merchants absorb yet another overnight hit.
Break-In At 3421 N. Lincoln Ave.
According to FOX 32 Chicago, the burglary unfolded around 4 a.m. at Pellys Liquor Store at 3421 N. Lincoln Ave. Police told the station that the crew smashed through the front glass, swiped merchandise from inside and then sped off in an SUV. Investigators have not released a suspect count or a list of what was taken as Area Three detectives continue to dig into the case.
One Hit In A String Of Overnight Burglaries
The Pellys break-in comes amid a broader wave of overnight burglaries and crash-and-grab jobs this week, including cases where suspects reportedly rammed Jeeps into minimarts and hauled away ATMs, as reported by CBS Chicago. Those incidents included hits in River North and West Englewood where the vehicles used in the crashes were abandoned at the scene while the thieves escaped in other cars. Police have not said whether the liquor-store burglary is tied to the ATM thefts.
Rising Concerns And Repeated Police Alerts
Predawn Smash Mob Ransacks Shops has tracked similar early-morning crews that have been battering storefronts across the North and Northwest Sides. ABC7 Chicago also reported at least 17 early-morning smash-and-grab burglaries earlier this year, noting that thieves have used sledgehammers or pry bars to get at registers, ATMs or merchandise. The repeated damage has some small businesses weighing security upgrades and shorter hours in an effort to cut their risk and mounting repair bills.
Area detectives are asking anyone with surveillance video, dash-cam footage or tips to contact CPD's Area Three detectives so they can chase down new leads. As FOX 32 Chicago reported, investigators were already reviewing neighborhood camera footage, and no arrests had been reported in the liquor-store case as of the latest update. Citywide, detectives continue canvassing affected neighborhoods as they work to piece together the larger pattern behind the overnight burglaries.
