Four people turned an Avalon Park sandwich shop into a crash scene early Wednesday, driving an SUV straight through the front of Stony Sub and ripping out the store’s ATM before speeding away in a second vehicle. The smash-and-grab unfolded shortly after 6 a.m., badly damaging the storefront. No injuries were reported, and police said no one was in custody that morning. Area 2 detectives have opened an investigation into the theft.
What happened
The break-in happened shortly after 6 a.m., when an SUV plowed through the front window of the sandwich shop on the 8400 block of South Stony Island Avenue and the suspects hauled the ATM outside, according to CBS Chicago. The group then ditched the crash vehicle and took off in a different SUV, the outlet reported. Area 2 detectives were assigned to the case, and officers had not made any arrests as of Wednesday morning, CBS Chicago added.
Part of a string of crash-and-grab thefts
Chicago has been dealing with a run of similar “crash-and-grab” ATM robberies this spring, with crews using vehicles as battering rams to smash storefronts and drag out the machines, according to ABC7 Chicago. In one January break-in in West Town, security video showed masked burglars muscling an ATM out of a store, a case that may be tied to a broader crew hitting multiple neighborhoods, NBC Chicago reported.
Small businesses squeezed
For neighborhood merchants, the real price tag is often far higher than whatever cash is inside an ATM. Owners have to replace doors, windows, fixtures and equipment, and many are forced to shut down for days while repairs are made. “It was bolted to the floor,” one owner told NBC Chicago, describing how crews show up ready to rip machines out, which is why some business operators are pushing for more patrols and better camera coverage. The visible wreckage can rattle customers and drive up insurance costs, adding pressure to already thin margins for small, independent shops.
How to help investigators
Police are asking anyone who spotted the vehicles involved, or who has surveillance footage from along the Stony Island corridor around the time of the break-in, to contact investigators. Area 2 detectives are leading the probe, according to CBS Chicago, which noted there were no arrests reported as of Wednesday morning. Neighbors with information can also submit anonymous tips through the CPD tip portal or reach out to their local district to help move the case forward.
