Just before sunrise Sunday, a crew in a Jeep turned a quiet stretch of North Kedzie Avenue into a crash scene, driving straight through the front of a 7‑Eleven in Irving Park. Around 5:45 a.m. on the 3800 block of North Kedzie, at least four people sprinted into the store, grabbed merchandise, and bolted within minutes, according to witnesses and investigators. Police say the suspects then fled in a blue Acura and another white Jeep as detectives began canvassing the area, leaving behind a battered ATM and a mess of shattered glass.
According to ABC7 Chicago, officers found a broken ATM outside the storefront and confirmed that items were stolen from inside. Authorities have not released any suspect names or charges and say the case remains open while detectives pull surveillance footage and track down leads.
Part of a familiar theft pattern
Smash‑and‑grab crews using Jeep‑style SUVs as battering rams have hit Chicago businesses repeatedly in recent years, typically striking in the pre‑dawn hours and going straight for ATMs or cash registers. CBS Chicago covered a January 2024 case where burglars used a Jeep to yank an ATM out of a Bronzeville shop, and another CBS report from April 2026 details a similar setup at an Uptown gas station. The same early‑morning timing and vehicle tactics have become a familiar headache for investigators, while small business owners are left footing the repair bills.
Local merchants left picking up the pieces
For neighborhood shop owners, the fallout is not just what disappears off the shelves. Blown‑out windows, twisted doors, damaged alarms and slow‑moving insurance claims can drag on long after the glass is swept up. "They were definitely taking their time," one merchant told ABC7 Chicago after an earlier string of crash‑and‑grabs, a frustration echoed across affected corridors where owners say every hit feels like starting over.
How to report tips
Chicago police are asking anyone with information about the Irving Park break‑in to contact investigators. Call 911 for crimes in progress. For non‑emergencies, the department directs residents to call 311 within city limits or (312) 746‑6000 from outside the city. Tips can also be submitted through online department portals or by text, according to the Chicago Police Department. Local coverage has also highlighted the CPDTip text option for anonymous information, and detectives say any security camera or neighborhood video could prove useful.
Police have not identified suspects or announced arrests in the Irving Park case. Detectives say they are reviewing footage and following up on leads, while neighbors report the crash jolted residents awake and left the 7‑Eleven boarded up as investigators worked through the morning.
