Car burglars are becoming increasingly brazen in Chicago, with multiple incidents this week involving gunfire. In the South Loop early Friday morning, a 27-year-old man was shot in the back after confronting four suspects breaking into his car on South Wabash. The victim is in good condition at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, but the suspects managed to escape.
This is just one of several recent incidents where car burglaries have turned violent in the city. In Portage Park, a 57-year-old man was shot in the leg by a car burglar he confronted, while in North Seeley, a contractor was fired upon when he tried to stop thieves from stealing tools from his work vehicle. Last week, a disturbing video showed a crew of masked and armed thieves targeting a work truck in Portage Park.
Unfortunately, these incidents are not isolated. Earlier this year, there were multiple shootings involving car burglars, with varying outcomes for the victims. In March, a concealed carry holder shot a 21-year-old man breaking into his car on the Far South Side. In April, there were shootouts in South Shore and Pilsen involving concealed carry holders and car burglars, resulting in injuries to both parties. Even an off-duty Chicago police officer engaged in a shootout with car burglars in West Lawn, sustaining a minor injury.
The rise in armed burglary teams in Chicago is a troubling trend, turning what were once considered “nuisance crimes” into potentially deadly encounters. It’s clear that car owners need to be vigilant and take precautions to protect themselves and their property. With suspects still at large in many of these cases, it’s crucial for residents to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement and take measures to secure their vehicles.
