Overnight, a crew of four smashed their way into El Camarón Coketo on Main Street in Blue Island, heading straight not for the seafood but for the video-gaming machines, according to the owner. Mauro Gomez, who has run the neighborhood spot for five years, said surveillance footage shows the group going directly to the terminals, each of which can hold at least $5,000. After the hit, Gomez told reporters he is seriously considering pulling the machines altogether. Police have not released any suspect descriptions or announced arrests.
As reported by FOX 32 Chicago, the surveillance video shows the suspects shattering the front windows, then using whatever tools they had to crack open the cash boxes inside the machines while moving quickly to get out. Gomez told the station he is asking the Blue Island Police Department for more patrols along Main Street so businesses are not left dealing with what he called "these crime sprees."
Smash-and-grab crews target gambling cash across Illinois
The hit at El Camarón Coketo is far from an isolated case. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Illinois Gaming Board logged 473 burglaries at businesses with video gambling in 2025, with operators saying thieves made off with more than $2.7 million. Police and business owners have described late-night crews that smash their way in, hit ATMs, redemption kiosks and terminals, then bolt before officers arrive, leaving behind busted doors, broken glass and expensive repairs.
Regulators spell out what security steps are allowed
In a January memo, the Illinois Gaming Board reminded operators that terminal operators and licensees can provide temporary security measures, including surveillance cameras, alarms and ID scanners, under Rule 350. The board stressed those steps have to be temporary rather than permanent construction and that costs should stay proportional to the size of the gaming area. The memo also notes that while the IGB is not a first responder, the agency works with local police and prosecutors to support investigations tied to these burglaries.
Big-ticket cases show where investigations can lead
State officials say some of these break-ins have led to major criminal cases. The Illinois Attorney General charged three men last September, after an investigation that authorities say recovered more than $500,000 taken from video-gaming machines in multiple suburbs. That prosecution highlights both the large sums involved in recent thefts and the kind of multi-agency coordination sometimes needed to bring charges.
Owners weigh ripping out machines as crews keep hitting
Gomez told FOX 32 Chicago he is frustrated with what he sees as a thin police presence and is thinking about removing the gaming terminals to avoid being targeted again. Across the region, other operators have started putting up metal shields, upgrading alarm systems and cutting back on how much cash is kept on site while they wait for investigators to track down the crews behind the smash-and-grab streak.
