A Jeep SUV smashed through the front entrance of a gas station in the 6700 block of South Jeffery Boulevard at about 5:17 a.m. Sunday, and multiple people made off with the store's ATM before driving away in a second SUV, according to Chicago police. No suspects have been taken into custody.
Police are investigating the burglary, as reported by ABC7 Chicago.
This is not the first time a Jeffery Boulevard gas station has been targeted this year. A gas station in the 8600 block was damaged in a failed pre-dawn crash-and-grab in July, and that came on the heels of another attempt in May at a station in the 7600 block, according to Hoodline's earlier reporting. One station owner has reported three or four break-in attempts within a single year.
ATM Theft Tactics
The tactics described by police in South Shore mirror a pattern Chicago has seen play out again and again this year. Chicago police have investigated ATM thefts involving black Jeeps and a gun, as reported by CBS News Chicago.
In South Shore, police described a Jeep as the vehicle that breached the storefront and a second SUV as the vehicle used by suspects to flee.
Gas stations in Chicago have been targeted in pre-dawn ATM thefts, according to Hoodline's ongoing coverage of the pattern. Recent cases included a North Lawndale case and an Avondale hit reported earlier this month.
Crime Statistics Provide Context
Nonresidential burglaries and citywide violent crime provide context.
Suspects may abandon vehicles at the scene.
Coordinated ATM thefts have occurred in Chicago before.
Legal Exposure If Suspects Are Caught
If suspects are identified, prosecutors would determine the charges and potential penalties under Illinois law.
Any additional charges would likewise depend on the evidence and prosecutorial decisions.
Police have not announced any arrests in the Sunday morning burglary.
