A predawn smash-and-grab hit two Avondale businesses in quick succession on Chicago’s Northwest Side, leaving wrecked gaming machines, rattled owners and a dark SUV speeding off into the night.
The same crew appears to have targeted Snacks N Smoke near Cicero and Belmont, then Milano Café on the 3900 block of West School Street, before taking off in that SUV, according to surveillance footage.
ABC7 Chicago reports that thieves broke into Snacks N Smoke around 3:30 a.m., then about 15 minutes later ransacked Milano Café. The Snacks N Smoke owner told the station it was the fourth burglary in 11 months and said he is now considering closing because he cannot afford to keep taking the hits. No arrests have been reported in connection with either break-in.
The method, smashing video-gambling machines with hammers or sledgehammers to get at the cash inside, fits a broader pattern of organized burglaries in the region. Some of those cases have led to arrests and charges, and authorities formed a task force earlier this year to go after crews targeting video-gambling terminals, according to CBS Chicago. Police have not publicly said whether the Avondale jobs are tied to those existing investigations.
Surveillance Shows Sledgehammers And A Dark SUV
The surveillance clip reviewed by ABC7 Chicago appears to show three people using sledgehammers to smash gaming machines before running out and jumping into a dark SUV. The getaway vehicle then speeds off. The footage did not capture a readable license plate, a familiar headache for detectives who often have to work with low-resolution security cameras.
Small-Business Toll
For neighborhood merchants, this kind of smash-and-grab hits on multiple fronts. Repairing busted doors, replacing ruined machines, covering stolen cash and then dealing with higher insurance premiums can quickly turn a thin profit margin into a financial cliff.
A predawn smash-and-grab roundup earlier this year placed the Avondale-style hits in a wider pattern across the North and Northwest sides, where owners have been debating everything from roll-down gates to upgraded cameras and other security investments just to stay afloat.
How To Help Or Report
In similar cases, police have urged business owners to save the original, highest-quality camera files and share them directly with detectives, rather than texting or compressing clips. Members of the public are also encouraged to submit tips or footage to investigators, according to CBS Chicago. Even small details such as a clearer angle on the vehicle, a more precise time of the hit or additional views from nearby buildings can help advance an investigation.
For now, the Avondale break-ins are the latest entry in a run of brazen smash-and-grab jobs that have left small businesses shaken and repair bills stacking up. This story will be updated if police announce arrests or release additional footage.
