At about 5:20 a.m. Wednesday, long before sunrise, thieves rammed a black SUV straight through the front of GA Food Mart at 808 W. 87th Street in Gresham, shattering glass across the sidewalk and tearing into the small convenience store. Police said the crew tried to pull an ATM from the building, then ran off, leaving the mangled SUV behind. No injuries were reported, and later in the morning, workers could be seen boarding up the busted storefront while detectives combed the scene for evidence. The abandoned SUV was towed from the lot as part of the investigation.
According to police, the offenders drove the vehicle into the storefront, went inside, and attempted to break into an ATM before taking off on foot and ditching the SUV at the scene. As reported by FOX 32 Chicago, SkyFox aerial footage later showed crews repairing the shattered window while area detectives continued their work.
Another Hit in Chicago's Crash‑and‑Grab Wave
The Gresham break‑in is the latest entry in a growing list of vehicle‑powered burglaries that have been hitting Chicago neighborhoods in recent weeks. The Chicago Sun-Times reported a separate Bronzeville case where thieves rammed a gas station and hauled away an entire ATM, and CBS Chicago documented a different early‑morning theft on the Far South Side. Local coverage of these incidents points to a pattern of smash‑and‑grab crews targeting registers, cash drawers, and ATMs, then speeding off before police can arrive.
Why Experts Say Smash‑and‑Grabs Are Spreading
Security consultant G. Michael Verden told FOX 32 Chicago that a shrinking number of sworn officers, combined with strict limits on vehicle pursuits in non‑violent offenses, can make this kind of crime more appealing to organized crews. He noted that officers "are restricted in pursuing that vehicle," and said offenders often stage these hits during pre‑dawn hours when streets and sidewalks are largely empty. Verden recommended that merchants work with security professionals to revisit storefront hardening and camera coverage so that quick strikes are harder to pull off and better documented when they happen.
Steps Shops Can Take Now
Experts and industry studies on ram‑raid thefts advise using layers of physical protection, including bollards or other barriers to block vehicle access, anchoring systems for ATMs, seismic alarms and high‑quality cameras, in order to slow or deter fast break‑ins. A public‑private study on ATM ram‑raid prevention outlines these kinds of measures and warns that standard fixtures can be overwhelmed by larger vehicles, so any retrofit should be tailored to the layout and risk profile of each store. Local outlets covering recent hits also urge anyone who has surveillance footage or information about these crimes to share it with detectives through the Chicago Police Department tip portal.
The Gresham case has added to mounting worries among small operators over repair costs and safety while detectives continue to investigate. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Area detectives or submit tips through the CPD tip portal.
