Chicago's Northwest Side is on alert after a quick burst of home break-ins in Portage Park and neighboring Dunning. Chicago police issued a community alert Monday following four burglaries reported over six days, saying the intruder or intruders slipped in through unlocked doors or windows and took small safes, firearms, jewelry, and cash. Detectives say they are actively working the case and urging residents to tighten up basic home security.
Where the break-ins happened
Police linked four incidents in the immediate area: one in the 5900 block of West Waveland Avenue, reported between June 1 at 12:30 p.m. and June 5 at 11:30 p.m.; another in the 6000 block of West Waveland Avenue on June 3 at about 12:10 a.m.; a third in the 6000 block of West Warwick Avenue on June 4 at about 3:10 a.m.; and a fourth on the 6000 block of West Waveland Avenue on June 6 at about 4:57 a.m. In the alert, officers said the offender or offenders generally got in through unsecured doors or windows and removed items from inside the homes, according to NBC Chicago.
Not the first time
This is not a brand-new headache for Portage Park and Dunning. Chicago police have put out similar community alerts in these Northwest Side neighborhoods in past years when clusters of burglaries popped up, suggesting detectives sometimes track these cases as patterns rather than one-offs. Back in 2015, the Chicago Sun-Times reported on another string of home burglaries in the same general corridor, a reminder that this stretch has been on the department's radar before.
Who police are looking for and how to help
Police described the suspect as a male, believed to be between 18 and 20 years old, about 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-8 in height. He has been reported wearing a black balaclava-style mask, with grey sweatpants or ripped jeans, and at times carrying a black backpack. Anyone with information is asked to contact Area 5 detectives at (312) 746-7394 or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com using reference number P26-5-010, according to NBC Chicago.
How neighbors can protect themselves
Officers are reminding residents not to chase or confront any suspected burglar and to call police right away to report suspicious activity. They also urge neighbors to lock and secure all doors and windows, even during the day. Anyone with doorbell or security-camera footage from the listed dates should save a copy and get in touch with detectives, since video can be crucial to building a case. Neighborhood block clubs and beat officers can also coordinate extra watches and share information while detectives keep working the investigation.
