A Chicago Lawn smoke shop was caught on surveillance video as thieves broke into the business, turning an otherwise quiet storefront into a fast-moving burglary scene. The footage offers a rare look at the break-in itself, rather than just the shattered glass and empty shelves left behind.
CBS News Chicago reported Thursday that surveillance video captured the thieves entering a smoke shop in the South Side neighborhood. The brief report does not identify the business, specify how many people were involved, detail what was taken or say whether anyone has been arrested.
The video shows the crime unfolding, but it does not establish the identities of the people involved or whether this burglary is connected to other break-ins. Those details remain important as businesses across Chicago continue dealing with smash-and-grab attacks that can be over in minutes.
Recent Chicago Smoke Shop Burglaries Have Followed A Similar Pattern
The Chicago Lawn break-in echoes a June burglary at Snacks N Smokes in Portage Park. According to CBS Chicago, burglars broke a window, entered the store and stole a cash register along with tobacco products before fleeing in a dark-colored vehicle.
NBC Chicago reported that surveillance footage showed thieves ransacking the Portage Park shop, while the owner said it had been targeted four times in 11 months. Police had not said whether that burglary was connected to a separate break-in at an Avondale bar, a reminder that similar-looking crimes do not automatically point to the same offenders.
