Clothing store owners considering giving up on Chicago after latest crash-and-grab
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Store owners in the West Loop said they can't take much more – having been hit by crash and grabbers Tuesday morning.
The thieves did thousands of dollars in damage and stole $50,000 to $100,000 in merchandise – and this incident was the store's third hit in less than a month.
CBS 2's Tara Molina has been investigating retail theft for years. She turned to the experts to see what can be done with this latest example of how difficult the crimes are to prevent.
SVRN occupies a storefront on the ground floor of the 6-year-old Aberdeen East luxury apartment building at 171 N. Aberdeen St., right off Randolph Street. The streetwear store touts its mission as, "Bringing forth intersectionality within the industry by a means of self-expression through fashion, art, and culture."
On Tuesday afternoon, SVRN was boarded up – after getting hit for the third time in less than a month. The owners of the store said the crew that hit them got away with thousands in merchandise.
The owners – brothers David and Robert Kim - also told us they have done everything possible to protect themselves.
"You know, I don't know how many more of these we can do until, you know, we just have to call it quits in the city," said David Kim.
The surveillance video captured of at the streetwear early Tuesday morning is why.
"If you guys keep this up, there's not going to be anything left for you guys to shop at – like, normal businesses," said Robert Kim.
The burglary happened around 3 a.m. The video shows the burglary crew was prepared – using several sport-utility vehicles and a chain to pull one of the concrete barriers – set up in front to protect the store – into the street.
The thieves then pulled a vehicle up onto the sidewalk to crash through the front of the store and its security fencing.
The Kim brothers said the crew got away with more than $50,000 in merchandise – a hit they will take personally.
"We've done everything we could with putting barriers up, and gates, and hiding our inventory in our stock room - and they're still relentless enough," said David Kim, "and no one's doing anything to stop these."
Chicago Police didn't have anything new to share for business owners. So what are they supposed to do?
"Well, you're hearing clear frustration," said Rob Karr, president of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. "You've got armed guards. You've got off-duty police officers."
Karr said a lack of action from authorities is even making retailers question whether there's a point in reporting crimes.
"I would also say that retail needs to be reporting everything that happens to them as well," he said. "There's a bit of frustration there. They wonder to themselves – much as the street level police wonder to themselves – why should we go through this if no one is going to take it seriously. So we need the message that it's going to be taken seriously and once that message is sent we need to make sure retail is reporting."
Karr said many retailers have been hit multiple times, and security measures are not always enough to stop thieves.
"In this case they had bollards up. They don't stop anything," he said. "They can diminish, but they don't stop anything."
Karr said he knows store owners and operators are doing everything they can – like in the case of SVRN. He said it is going to take more.
"There has to be prosecution, and there has to be a consistent, effective message that it will be dealt with forcefully in this jurisdiction," said Karr, "and so far, that message is absent at every level."
We reached the Cook County State's Attorney's Office and the Chief Judge's office – as well as the city's Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection - asking for a response to that call for help.
The Cook County State's Attorney's office did not address our questions related to retail theft or crash-and-grabs. But the office did release this statement:
"The Cook County State's Attorney's Office (CCSAO) recognizes community concerns around crime, and the impact it can have on one's sense of safety as well as the economic stability of a business. We will continue to hold those accountable for driving the violence in our communities when police make an arrest and charges are approved. The CCSAO remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to address violence and crime and will continue to prosecute criminal cases based on the law and the evidence as we strive to increase safety in our communities."
BACP released this statement:
"The City of Chicago is committed to the highest level of public safety at businesses, and for residents, throughout the City. The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) licenses businesses and public vehicles. Crime, such as retail theft, is reported and tracked by the Chicago Police Department.
"The BACP Active Compliance Program is a proactive educational program which helps business owners/operators stay compliant through non-disciplinary consultations. The ACP program also distributes information helpful to businesses, such as community safety tips. BACP regularly shares information with business owners through ACP, social media, email marketing, outreach events, community partners, and stakeholders."
The Chief Judge's office declined to comment with this statement:
"Under Illinois Supreme Court ethics rules, the chief judge's office cannot comment on a pending or impending case, like the incident you cite here. Judges are required to follow the law in all cases that come before them."
Meanwhile, the call for more action in the criminal justice realm was echoed by the Kim brothers - small business owners picking up the pieces for what could be the last time.
"I think everybody who's in power needs to do a better job, and look out for this community," said David Kim.
Chicago Police were still investigating the crash-and-grab late Tuesday. Molina is told no one was in custody as of that time.
Police did provide this bullet-point list of how business owners can protect their property:
- Keep doors locked and windows secure.
- Immediately repair broken windows, doors, or locks.
- If video surveillance is available, save a copy of the incident for Detectives.
- If you are a victim, do not touch anything and contact the police immediately.
- Keep a record of motor vehicle information.
- Call 911 immediately and provide a detailed description of any suspicious people including any vehicle description and license plate information.
