Burglars target nearly 20 Chicago businesses, prompting police warning
CHICAGO (CBS) — Eighteen business were burglarized ahead of the holidays—prompting an official warning from Chicago Police.
The burglaries happened between Oct. 26 and Nov. 26—Tuesday of this week. Several of the burglaries happened on Tuesday alone.
In each incident, police said the suspects broke the front glass doors or side windows to gain access to the businesses. The group targeted cash registers and left the scene in cars waiting outside.
Police said the suspects broke the front glass doors or side windows to gain access to the businesses. The group targeted cash registers and left the scene in cars waiting outside.
Among the businesses targeted was the venerable Eppel's Restaurant, at 554 W. Roosevelt Rd. at Jefferson Street in the South Loop, which has been in business for more than 70 years.
Chicago Police said the burglar alarm went off at Eppel's just after 4 a.m., and thieves got away with the cash register.
Also targeted were the Ukrainian Village location of Fatso's Last Stand, at 2258 W. Chicago Ave., and Victory Italian Restaurant at 1416 S. Michigan Ave.
The full list of locations for the burglaries is as follows:
- 1500 block of North Ashland Avenue, Wicker Park.
- 5300 block of West Belmont Avenue, Belmont Cragin (two businesses)
- 3100 block of West Montrose Avenue, Albany Park
- 3700 block of North Harlem Avenue, Dunning
- 5100 block of West Diversey Avenue, Belmont Cragin
- 3100 block of West Lawrence Avenue, Albany Park.
- 4300 block of West Armitage Avenue, Hermosa.
- 800 block of North Western Avenue, West Town.
- 1800 block of West Division Street, Wicker Park.
- 3500 block of North Milwaukee Avenue, Old Irving Park.
- 5800 block of North Milwaukee Avenue, Norwood Park (two businesses)
- 2200 block of South Michigan Avenue, South Loop.
- 500 block of West Roosevelt Road, South Loop.
- 1400 block of South Michigan Avenue, South Loop.
- 1200 block of North Noble Street, Wicker Park.
- 2200 block of West Chicago Avenue, Ukrainian Village.
The last eight burglaries on that list all took place within a period of two and a half hours early Tuesday morning. Many of the businesses targeted were restaurants.
Police are searching for this burglary crew, made up of four to five men who wear dark clothes, face masks, and gloves. The group is taking off in the following cars.
- Black Nissan Altima
- Gray Infiniti G37
- Dark Nissan SUV
- White Infiniti sedan
Restaurant burglaries are at a 23-year high in Chicago
This latest burglary spree is but the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the greater trend in Chicago. More than 600 restaurants have been hit this year—the most seen in Chicago in 23 years.
"We need to all work together and get this under control, because it will be a death to our independent restaurant/bars here in the city of Chicago,"
A total of 653 restaurants have been burglarized in the city of Chicago this year. That figure is the highest since tracking of burglaries began in 2001.
"It's a business of pennies and nickels, and when you get broken into and you've got to replace the front door, you know, because they broke the front door that was glass and stole your safe, yes, you can go to your insurance company maybe once," Toia said. "But after that, your premiums are going to go up."
The circumstances are even worse with the number of restaurants hit just this week heading into the holiday season.
"November and December are supposed to be your best months. Those are the months that make or break you if you're an independent restaurant," Toia said, "and then getting broken into? Whatever was going to the bottom line is not."
Restaurant and bar burglaries have been on the rise in recent years. There were 583 such crimes in Chicago back in 2001 and 2002, and the number fell to a low of 204 in 2014. But the past couple of years have seen the highest number of restaurant burglaries ever.
In 2023, there were 635 restaurant burglaries. That figure has already passed, with more than a month to go in the year for 2024.
Among community areas, West Town—which also includes Wicker Park, part of Bucktown, and Ukrainian Village—has seen the most restaurant burglaries this year with 55, followed by Lincoln Park with 49, Lakeview with 47, and the Near North Side—which includes River North, Streeterville, the Magnificent Mile, the Gold Coast and other high-profile areas—with 44.
As for the 18 burglaries that warranted the latest police alert, police believe one crew is behind them all. The first took place at 10:45 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at Taco & Burrito Express 3, 1512 N. Ashland Ave.
That first burglary was caught on surveillance video. The burglars smashed in and got away with cash.
The family that owns Taco & Burrito Express 3 said it was a major hit, and they want this burglary crew off the streets.
Police are asking businesses in the area to report suspicious activity and make sure surveillance cameras are recording.
Anyone with information connected to the burglaries are asked to contact Belmont Area detectives at 312-744-8263.
