A fast‑moving burglary crew has been cutting a path across Chicago’s Southwest Side in the pre‑dawn dark, hitting more than a dozen storefronts in a matter of minutes and then peeling off in a waiting car. Now Cook County Crime Stoppers is putting up cash, hoping a $1,000 reward will shake loose the tip that breaks the case.
Crime Stoppers Puts $1,000 On The Line
Cook County Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 cash reward and is asking anyone with information to call the anonymous tip line at 1‑800‑535‑STOP (7867) or submit tips online at CPDTIP.com. Tipsters whose information leads to an arrest could qualify for the payout, according to Crime Stoppers.
String Of Break‑Ins Across Southwest Side Neighborhoods
The burglaries were reported on Monday, July 6, and Thursday, July 16, between about 4 a.m. and 5:30 a.m., with more than a dozen businesses targeted in Garfield Ridge, Archer Heights, West Lawn and Gage Park, according to CBS Chicago. The outlet published block‑level locations provided by authorities, showing several storefronts hit along Archer Avenue along with businesses on Pulaski and Kedzie. Police have not announced any arrests, and the investigation is still underway.
What Investigators Say About The Crew And Their Getaway Car
Authorities describe the suspects as a group of four men dressed in masks, gloves and dark clothing. They were last seen leaving the scenes in a white Kia sedan, according to investigators. Police and Crime Stoppers are asking anyone who might have surveillance, door‑bell or dash‑cam video from those early‑morning hours to save the files and send them in through the tip portal or to local detectives via CPDTIP.com. Crime Stoppers notes that tips are confidential and that callers receive a code number to claim any potential reward.
What Local Business Owners Are Urged To Do
Business owners in the affected neighborhoods are urged to back up overnight security footage, make sure video is properly timestamped and double‑check exterior camera angles. Sharing that footage with detectives can help link the same crew across multiple scenes. Officials also recommend securing cash registers, limiting what is left visibly on display overnight and reporting any suspicious vehicles immediately to help slow repeat incidents.
Anyone with information about the burglaries is asked to call 1‑800‑535‑STOP or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com. Detectives say the investigation remains active and that they are following multiple leads as Crime Stoppers offers the reward in an effort to identify and charge those responsible.
