A pre-dawn smash-and-grab rocked a Bronzeville gas station Friday when four people rammed a Jeep through the front door and carried an ATM to a waiting SUV, leaving the BP with a shattered storefront. Police said the crew fled in a gray vehicle, and no injuries were reported.
What the police say
According to FOX 32 Chicago, the burglary happened around 4:10 a.m. at the BP station at 3101 S. Michigan Ave. Police told the outlet that a white Jeep drove straight through the front entrance, four people removed the ATM, then loaded it into a gray SUV before taking off. Area One detectives are investigating, and authorities reiterated that no one was hurt.
Not an isolated hit
The Bronzeville job is part of a wider rash of crash-and-grab ATM thefts hitting Chicago this spring, with thieves using SUVs to smash into storefronts and haul away machines. CBS Chicago has tracked similar incidents from River North to the Northwest Side and the South Loop, in some cases with crews abandoning a Jeep at the scene after the hit.
Police warnings and business toll
Chicago police have warned small businesses about crews targeting ATMs after security footage showed burglars ripping machines from floors in West Town and other neighborhoods. As NBC Chicago reported, store owners say repeated break-ins mean expensive repairs and sometimes force them to question whether staying open late is worth the risk.
Officials' timing
The robbery came just one day after city leaders rolled out a summer safety plan focused on sending extra resources to neighborhoods dealing with theft and large crowds. As reported by FOX 32 Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling had laid out their deployment strategy and community outreach efforts ahead of the holiday weekend.
How to help
Area One detectives are asking anyone with surveillance footage or information about the Bronzeville break-in to contact investigators or submit a tip through the Chicago Police Department portal. For details on submitting information, visit the Chicago Police Department, and call 911 if a crime is in progress.
