The rise in nighttime burglaries of businesses, particularly restaurants and bars, has been a major concern in Chicago this year. Despite numerous community alerts issued by the Chicago Police Department (CPD) about various burglary teams, arrests have been minimal. According to CPD data, restaurant burglaries have increased by 18% over the previous year, while tavern and liquor store break-ins have risen by 24% and small retail store break-ins by 32%.
Recently, there have been developments in the cases of three men accused of being serial business burglars. Charvale Bass, Timothy Jackson, and Jaylen Smith have all faced legal consequences for their alleged crimes.
Charvale Bass was accused of burglarizing a dozen restaurants and stores across Wicker Park, Humboldt Park, and West Town by breaking windows or glass doors with rocks, bricks, or concrete. He stole cash registers and safes before escaping in a silver Nissan. After a surveillance operation by CPD, Bass was caught breaking into Slide Bar on South Western Avenue. He pleaded guilty to five counts of burglary and was sentenced to four years, expected to be paroled in May 2029.
Timothy Jackson, a nine-time felon, was arrested for burglarizing a River North restaurant while on probation for a previous theft offense. He was caught lying next to a stairwell in the restaurant and was sentenced to five years for felony burglary.
Jaylen Smith faced charges of robbery and burglary after a one-night spree where he targeted Subway, McGee’s Tavern and Grille, and 7-Eleven. He pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and two counts of burglary, receiving a ten-year sentence for each robbery and seven years for each burglary, to be served concurrently. Smith is expected to be paroled in February 2029 after serving five years.
These cases highlight the ongoing issue of business burglaries in Chicago and the legal consequences faced by those involved in such criminal activities. It is crucial for law enforcement to continue their efforts in combating these crimes to ensure the safety and security of local businesses and communities.
