CHICAGO — A burglary crew stormed restaurants, bars and coffee shops on the North and Northwest Sides this week, targeting at least 19 establishments, according to a new warning from Chicago police.
The group, consisting of two and four men, wore dark clothing, face masks and gloves and traveled in a gray Volkswagen Jetta, a gray Jeep Grand Cherokee and a dark sedan, police said.
They operate at night, breaking open a glass door or front window and then climbing in to take money from the cash registers and anything of value from the offices.
Police said the robberies began on Sunday, September 22 around 9:30 pm at an undisclosed business in the 2600 block of North Clark.
During a five-hour attack early the next morning, ten shops were targeted:
- an unknown business in the 2900 block of North Clark at 12:30 p.m
- an unknown business in the 2600 block of North Clark at 2 a.m
- two unknown businesses in the 2500 block of North Clark around 2:50 a.m
- Lou Malnati’s, 3963 North Avondale, at 2:45 am
- Backlot Coffee, 2982 North Avondale, at 2:46 am
- Dairy Queen, 5636 West Irving Park, at 4:02 am
- Copacubana Café, 5800 West Irving Park, at 4:04 am
- Earl’s BBQ, 4835 North Austin, at 4:40 am
- Everybody’s Coffee, 935 West Wilson, at 5:07 am
Early on Wednesday morning, September 25, reports emerged of a new wave of burglaries.
- Rockwell Bottle Shop & Coffee, 4634 North Rockwell, at 2:44 am
- Glassy Vapes, 1530 West Montrose, at 2:45 am
- an unknown business in the 1900 block of West Montrose at 3:25 AM
- Angelo’s Wine Bar, 3026 West Montrose, at 4:02 am
- Mima’s Taste of Cuba, 2925 West Irving Park, at 4:02 am
- Café Beograd, 2933 West Irving Park, at 4:02 am
- Four Treys Tavern, 3333 Noord-Damen, at 4:20 am
- AJ Hudson, 3800 North Ashland, between midnight and 6 a.m
Detectives from Area Three and Area Five are working on the investigation. You can reach them at 312-746-7394 and 312-744-8263.
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