Chicago’s Far South Side has a burglary problem that looks more like a movie plot than a typical smash-and-grab. Chicago police on Thursday issued a community alert after a run of early-morning break-ins where crews skipped the front door and instead cut through the drywall of neighboring properties to tunnel into local businesses.
The burglars have been targeting merchandise that is easy to grab and flip, including cellphones, clothing, and shoes, and leaving shop owners with interior damage that can be tougher and more expensive to repair than a broken window.
Police highlighted three incidents so far this month. Around midnight on June 2, a business in the 300 block of East 103rd Street in Roseland was hit. About 2 a.m. on June 22, a clothing store in the 2300 block of West 95th Street was broken into. A day later, around 2:30 a.m. on June 23, a Boost Mobile in the 10300 block of South Halsted was targeted, according to CBS Chicago.
In each case, authorities said the burglars took cellphones, clothes, and shoes. Anyone with information is asked to contact Calumet Area detectives at 312-747-8273 or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com using reference number P26-2-011.
How The Burglars Are Getting Inside
Instead of bashing in doors or windows, investigators say the crew is opting for a quieter route. The suspects are cutting holes through shared sheetrock walls that connect adjacent units, then slipping into the targeted storefronts from the business next door.
This drywall tactic is not entirely new in the region. In 2016, a thief broke through a wall to reach a salon next door, a case documented by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Police Guidance For Owners And Neighbors
Police and community alerts are urging business owners to hold on to any security footage, avoid confronting suspects, and call 911 immediately if they spot suspicious activity. Detectives also want neighbors to share surveillance clips and vehicle descriptions that might connect the dots across cases, as recent coverage of a broader South Side pattern has outlined, with reports of neighbors sleeping with one eye open.
Calumet Area detectives reiterated that anyone with information should call 312-747-8273 or leave an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com with reference number P26-2-011, CBS Chicago reported. Business owners are also being asked not to touch anything that might be evidence so investigators can preserve scenes and compare video and other details across all three break-ins.
