A two minute smash and grab at Taqueria San Jose in Bridgeport has the neighborhood on edge, after three burglars ripped an ATM from the front of the longtime restaurant and hauled it away in an SUV early Sunday. Surveillance video shows the crew muscling the machine out, shoving it into the back of the vehicle, and speeding off before staff could react. Owner Leticia Navarro, who has run the taqueria for 20 years, said about $4,000 in cash was taken, and told reporters she was "very scared" and thankful no one was inside at the time.
According to ABC7 Chicago, the dark SUV pulled up to the 3100 block of South Halsted Street at about 5:34 a.m. By 5:36 a.m., the suspects had yanked the ATM from its sockets and loaded it into the vehicle. Navarro said a passerby dialed 911, and that police called her while the robbery was still in progress. Chicago police say the investigation is ongoing, and no arrests have been announced.
ATM Grab Caps String Of Quick Hits
The Bridgeport hit follows a run of similar burglaries across the city earlier this month, when several ATMs were snatched from bars and gas stations over just a few days, as reported by CBS Chicago. Police have not said whether the Taqueria San Jose theft is tied to those earlier cases. Detectives are still asking anyone with tips, security footage, or information about the crew to get in touch.
Owner Left Shaken As Cops Probe Pattern
Navarro said the restaurant usually closes at 2 a.m., and crews often clean until around 3:30 a.m., which makes the roughly 5 a.m. strike feel especially brazen. The taqueria sits just steps from CPD's District 9 station, a detail not lost on neighbors watching the footage, and Navarro said seeing the theft unfold live on her cameras left her rattled.
Bridgeport has seen ATM burglars come through before. A March 2024 hit on a nearby currency exchange was covered in a March 2024 burglary at a nearby currency exchange, underscoring how frequently thieves have been targeting cash machines in the area. Police are urging anyone with information about the latest theft to contact Area detectives as the probe continues.
