4 smoke shops burglarized overnight in Chicago area
Four smoke shops in Chicago and the suburbs were busy cleaning up on Thursday, after thieves made a mess of their stores overnight.
Some of the crooks got caught on camera.
The first burglary happened just after 2 a.m. in Uptown. Police said an ATM that was stolen out of Uptown Smokes at 4527 N. Sheridan Rd. after thieves broke through the front glass door. They loaded it into a red vehicle and fled the scene.
Less than an hour later, thieves also broke into Urban City Smoke Shop at 4803 W. Foster Av. through a side window before stealing merchandise from inside. The co-owner told us several bongs were snatched off the shelves.
The owner said he has swept glass off the ground too many times. Thursday morning's break-in was the fourth time his Jefferson Park business has been burglarized.
Surveillance video shows a silver car backing up to the store before a suspect breaks the window, and two people follow, grabbing anything they can find.
Around 3:15 a.m., burglars also broke into Smoke Town Touhy in the Edgebrook neighborhood.
The owner shared surveillance video showing a silver sedan back up to the store before someone gets out and throws an object at the glass door, shattering the window.
Video then shows three thieves run into the shop, grabbing any merchandise.
Finally, in south suburban Alsip, police were searching for thieves who broke into Smoke City near Pulaski and 118th street.
Alsip police said four people ran into the business as a fifth person opened the trunk of a car around 4 a.m. Surveillance video shows two SUVs outside the store.
A white SUV backed up a couple of times to break through the gate, then four people ran inside the store.
Police said no one has been arrested in any of the burglaries.
Police have not confirmed if any of the burglaries are connected.