Chicago Police Issue Warning to Business Owners in Wicker Park and Logan Square Following String of Smash-and-Grab Burglaries
Chicago police have issued a warning to business owners in the Wicker Park and Logan Square neighborhoods after a series of early morning smash-and-grab burglaries targeting businesses. The burglaries involved forced entry through front doors, with offenders using crowbars to shatter glass in some instances and even ramming a vehicle through a storefront in another.
One confirmed burglary took place at 4:40 a.m. on December 11 at the Carhartt store located at 1518 North Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park. Surveillance footage revealed that six offenders arrived in a white panel van, parked in front of the business, and proceeded to break into the store.
Video footage showed the offenders pretending to have vehicle trouble by popping the hood of the van while one individual used a crowbar to break the front window. The group then entered the store, wearing gloves, and proceeded to steal boxes and merchandise before fleeing in the van.
Another burglary was reported around 2:56 a.m. on December 15 in the 3400 block of West Diversey Avenue in Logan Square. A third incident occurred at approximately 3:45 a.m. on December 16 at Outfit Repeater, a high-end resale shop located at 1539 North Damen Avenue in Wicker Park, known for selling luxury handbags and other high-priced items.
Authorities suspect that the same group of individuals may be responsible for all three break-ins. The alert provided details of several vehicles believed to be linked to the burglaries, including a white van with license plate 150783B, a 2017 black Honda sedan with plate number EU91700, and a 2018 black Honda sedan with plate AY78222.
The offenders, described as four to six males of unknown race and age, were seen wearing heavy winter coats, ski masks, hats, gloves, and dark clothing to conceal their identities.
Individuals with any information are urged to contact Area Five detectives at 312-746-7394 or submit anonymous tips through CPDTIP.com. The burglaries are associated with report numbers JJ518409, JJ522580, and JJ523740.
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