Shattered glass, busted doors, and rattled nerves greeted workers along Cermak Road early Monday, after a string of predawn break-ins hit several South Loop businesses. By the time employees arrived to open up, parts of the corridor looked more like a cleanup zone than a morning rush. Police had not released details, and no arrests had been reported as of Monday morning.
What happened
According to CBS Chicago, broken glass was spotted at Steve's Bite and at a Papa John's inside the same building at 80 E. Cermak Rd. Across the street, La Calle Tacos y Tequila at 67 E. Cermak Rd. also appeared to have been hit. The station reported that information from police on the burglaries was not immediately available.
Part of a wider pattern
The South Loop hits are the latest in a broader wave of overnight commercial burglaries that police have been warning businesses about across the city. FOX 32 Chicago reported that a Chicago Police business alert lists roughly two dozen break-ins between April 20 and May 13, with crews often targeting ATMs and cash registers, then taking off in SUVs. For business owners, it is starting to feel less like a string of one-offs and more like a pattern.
Local history of smash-and-grabs
This is not exactly new territory for the neighborhood. South Loop storefronts have been hit repeatedly this spring, including a THC cafe and a dispensary that were targeted in recent smash-and-grab burglaries captured on surveillance video. The third costly break-in coverage documented those earlier incidents and the mounting toll they have taken on small operators along the corridor.
Police guidance
On its business-alert pages, the Chicago Police Department advises owners to preserve surveillance footage, avoid disturbing crime scenes, and contact detectives rather than trying to chase suspects themselves. The alerts also spell out how burglars often work in groups and use vehicles as both lookouts and getaway cars. The Chicago Police Department maintains these business-alert postings and related resources for merchants.
Anyone with information about the latest break-ins is asked to contact area detectives or submit an anonymous tip through police tip portals. FOX 32 Chicago noted that detectives previously asked tipsters to use P3Tips with reference number 26-CWP-014A in related cases. This story will be updated if detectives or business owners release further details.
