Burglary crew targets 6 businesses on South, Southwest sides, police say
Chicago police are warning about a string of business burglaries on the city's South and Southwest sides, all of which took place early Wednesday morning.
According to police, the burglaries took place between 2:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. in the Kenwood, South Shore, Washington Heights, Beverly, Archer Heights, and West Elsdon neighborhoods.
In each incident, about four suspects wearing black ski masks, gloves, and dark clothing entered the business after breaking a glass front door/window. They then stole money, cash registers, and merchandise, while one of the thieves stayed in the vehicle.
Police said they fled the scene in a Black Infiniti sedan.
Surveillance video captured one of the burglaries at the La Michocana ice cream shop in the 5100 block of South Pulaski Road at 4:24 a.m.
The owners said the group stole about $250 from the register and three cash boxes with $4,000 from the back office.
The cash box was later found in Archer Heights outside Angelo's Stuffed Pizza in the 4800 block of South Pulaski Road, another business burglarized by the group just before 4 a.m.
The pizza shop owner said they were broken into in a similar way to the ice cream shops. The thieves stole about $6,000 from the pizzeria. Laptops and a camera were also stolen.
"We're already going through something tough. Our economy's not the greatest, business is not as good as it used to be. Doing something like this, obviously, we have to close operations in the morning, send our staff home. I don't know how long it will take us to get back up," said owner Adrian Zamudio.
The other incidents happened at the following times and locations:
- 1400 block of East 47th Street at 2:30 a.m.
- 7600 block of South Jeffery Boulevard at 2:45 a.m.
- 10300 block of South Halsted Street at 3:07 a.m.
- 2100 block of West 95th Street at 3:25 a.m.
Anyone with information or video of the incidents is asked to contact Area 1 detectives at 312-747-8384, Area 2 detectives at 312-747-8273, or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com and use reference number 26CWP007.