Chicago Police Department
‘Smash and grab’ burglars hit businesses
.
Dozens victimized this summer
By Tim Hadac
A “smash and grab” burglary crew has been hitting businesses across the Southwest Side, prompting police to issue a community alert.
The crew typically strikes in the early hours of the morning, smashing windows and quickly grabbing valuables within easy reach.
Chicago Police Department
Crime scenes this month (and approximate times) include:
- 5100 block of South Pulaski at 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12.
- 5100 block of South Pulaski at 3 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 13.
- 7600 block of South Cicero at 4 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 13.
- 5100 block of South Pulaski at 5 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 13.
- 5300 block of South Pulaski at 7:40 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 13.
- 8500 block of South Pulaski at 4 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 13.
The crew is described as three to five black men ages 18-35, about 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-1, wearing black hoodies, blue sweatpants, red gym shoes, white gym shoes, and a black sweatshirt with the letter “R” imprinted.
Last month, the crew burglarized:
- 3600 block of South Archer at 4 a.m. Saturday, July 8.
- 4000 block of South Western at 5 a.m. Saturday, July 8.
- 2700 block of West 59th Street at 5:30 a.m. Saturday, July 8.
- 5800 block of South Western at 5 a.m. Saturday, July 8.
- 1700 block of West 35th Street at 2:15 a.m. Sunday, July 9.
- 4000 block of West 55th Street at 2:30 a.m. Sunday, July 9.
- 7500 block of South Cicero at 9:15 a.m. Sunday, July 9.
- 8600 block of South Kedzie at 10 a.m. Sunday, July 9.
- 3200 block of West 87th Street at 3 a.m. Monday, July 10.
In addition to the Southwest Side, the crew has struck businesses in Bridgeport and Chinatown.
The crime spree appears to have started in June. Crime scenes include:
- 4200 block of West 55th Street at 5:50 a.m. Friday, June 9.
- 4700 block of West 63rd Street at 5:15 a.m. Thursday, June 15.
- 5200 block of South Archer at 4:30 a.m. Saturday, June 17.
- 7100 block of West Archer at 5 a.m. Saturday, June 17.
- 4300 block of West 51st Street at 4:20 a.m. Saturday, June 17.
- 7000 block of South Pulaski at 4:30 a.m. Saturday, June 17.
- 7000 block of South Pulaski at 2:30 a.m. Saturday, June 17.
- 6800 block of South Pulaski at 4 a.m. Sunday, June 18.
- 5000 block of South Archer at 3:15 a.m. Monday, June 26.
- 4400 block of South Archer at 4 a.m. Monday, June 26.
- 5700 block of South Archer at 4:20 a.m. Monday, June 26.
Those with useful information to share about any of the crimes are asked to call CPD Area 1 detectives at (312) 747-8384 and refer to crime pattern P23-1-108E.
In the wake of the crimes, business owners and managers are advised:
- Keep the perimeter of your property well lit.
- Report suspicious activity immediately.
- Keep doors and windows secured.
- Immediately repair any broken windows, doors or locks.
- If video surveillance is available, save and make a copy of the incident for investigating detectives.
- If you are a victim, do not touch anything. Call police immediately.
- If approached by a witness to the incident, request contact information.
- Secure window air conditioner units.
Local News
Football | Libertyville downs Richards for second year in row
Spread the loveLibertyville 48, Richards 15 Libertyville beat Richards in Week 2 for the second straight season, this time 48-15, to drop the Bulldogs to 1-1. Jaiden Henry scored on a 20-yard reception and Myles Mitchell tallied on a 2-yard TD run for Richards. The Bulldogs travel to Eisnehower this week for both teams’ South…
Football | Nazareth’s Logan Malachuk completes nine passes — six of them for TDs — in romp
Spread the loveNazareth 42, Kenwood 15 Nazareth senior quarterback Logan Malachuk threw for 275 yards and six touchdown passes as the Roadrunners (2-0) trounced Kenwood, 42-15, in a non-conference matchup in LaGrange Park. Malachuk, who has been under center the past two seasons as nazareth won back-to-back state championships, did that damage despite completing only…
Football | Flutman and Boersma connect for four scores as Chicago Christian tops Elmwood Park
Spread the loveCaden Boersma returned a punt for a touchdown and caught four scoring passes from Christian Flutman as Chicago Christian defeated Elmwood Park, 49-16, on Sept. 6 in Palos Heights. Kenny Jager had a rushing TD for the Knights (2-0), who were up 49-0 at halftime. Chicago Christian plays at Wheaton Academy this week.
Football | Jake Ritter shines and Marist is great late in win over Brother Rice
Spread the loveIt’s a new era at Marist under first-year head coach Mike Fitzgerald and his staff. But the more things change, the more they stay the same; at least when it comes to the recent history of the program’s annual neighborhood matchup with Brother Rice. RedHawks running back John McAuliffe’s second touchdown of the…
Northern Illinois likely wrecks Notre Dame’s season
Spread the loveThe Northern Illinois football team pulled off the biggest win in school history and the biggest stunner of the 2024 college football season thus far with a 16-14 win over 5th-ranked Notre Dame on Sept. 7 in South Bend. Three former area players are on the Huskies’ roster. Former Shepard star Roy Williams,…
National Football Players Father’s Association honors Hall of Famer Steve McMichael
Spread the loveThe Chicago Bears honored former defensive tackle and newly inducted Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve McMichael during the team’s home opener on Sept. 8 at Soldier Field. Three days earlier, McMichael he was honored by the National Football Players Fathers Association. The new vice president of that group is Orland Park Fire…
Girls Volleyball | St. Laurence strong on and off the court
Spread the loveThe St. Laurence girls volleyball players are competitive on and off the court. On the court, the Vikings made it to Class 3A Supersectional play the past two seasons before ending those campaigns with losses to Joliet Catholic in 2022 and St. Ignatius in 2023. They are off to a big start this…
Red Stars honor Olympians, then fall to Orlando
Spread the loveThe Chicago Red Stars honored their four Olympians before the team’s Sept. 8 match with Orlando, but when went out and dropped a 1-0 decision to the first-place Pride in an NWSL game in front of an announced crowd of 7,291 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview. Olympic gold medalists Mallory Swanson and Alyssa…
Playoffs in doubt for Fire after loss to D.C.
Spread the loveEven playing in its former digs at SeatGeek Stadium couldn’t help the Chicago Fire. The Fire, playing for their MLS playoff life, took another step backward in a 2-1 loss to D.C. United in front of an announced crowd of 16,426 on Sept. 7 in Bridgeview. The Fire’s regular home is Soldier Field,…
Football | Lyons top Wheaton Warrenville South in Jon Beutjer’s return to alma mater
Spread the loveBack when he was breaking state and national passing records at Wheaton Warrenville South, Jon Beutjer proudly wore orange and black. Beutjer, the prolific passer who led the Tigers to the 1998 Class 6A title, was back in Wheaton last week; however, this time he was wearing royal blue and gold as the…
Neighbors
Coroner’s affidavit shows as many as 800 human remains could have been misidentified
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com As many as 800 families across the country who patronized a Carlinville funeral home may never know if the remains on their mantles belong to their loved ones, according to an affidavit signed by Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon. The affidavit was filed in a lawsuit pending against…
Calculated bribe or ‘kiss up’ to Madigan? Corruption trial kicks off for former AT&T boss
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – As the federal corruption trial of former AT&T Illinois president Paul La Schiazza formally kicked off on Wednesday, prosecutors and defense attorneys painted two very different pictures of a political hire the telecom giant made in 2017. La Schiazza is accused of bribing former Illinois House…
Supreme Court hears cases pertaining to detention under the SAFE-T Act
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a pair of cases that test the authority of local courts to hold criminal suspects behind bars while they await trial. The cases come almost one year to the day after the court allowed a new law abolishing…
Supreme Court hears cases pertaining to detention under the SAFE-T Act
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a pair of cases that test the authority of local courts to hold criminal suspects behind bars while they await trial. The cases come almost one year to the day after the court allowed a new law abolishing…
Jury selection begins in trial of former AT&T Illinois boss accused of bribing Madigan
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – Jury selection is set to begin Tuesday in the trial of former AT&T Illinois president Paul La Schiazza, who federal prosecutors allege bribed once-powerful Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in exchange for favorable legislation in Springfield. It’s the last in a series of related trials that…
East St. Louis forum to tackle persistent childhood poverty
By MOLLY PARKER Capitol News Illinois mparker@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois has the potential to eradicate childhood poverty, but it will require a concentrated, sustained effort in partnership with families and disadvantaged communities, says Tasha Green Cruzat, president of Children’s Advocates for Change, a Chicago-based nonprofit focused on childhood wellbeing. This hope drives the focus of the policy…
Federal judge rejects Illinois’ bid to end court oversight of disability programs
By MOLLY PARKER & BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois mparker@capitolnewsillinois.com bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com A federal judge on Friday denied Illinois’ request to end court oversight of its disability services. Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman, with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, agreed with legal advocates who argued that the state still hasn’t met its…
Coroner’s affidavit shows as many as 800 human remains could have been misidentified
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com As many as 800 families across the country who patronized a Carlinville funeral home may never know if the remains on their mantles belong to their loved ones, according to an affidavit signed by Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon. The affidavit was filed in a lawsuit pending against…
State law banning concealed carry on public transit ruled unconstitutional
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com A federal judge in Rockford has declared a state law banning concealed firearms on public transit systems unconstitutional – at least as it applies to four individuals who challenged it in court. But the law remains in effect for everyone else as the parties in the case consider…
Capitol Briefs: Secretary of state enlists high schoolers to encourage organ donation
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – The secretary of state’s office is launching a new program to enlist Illinois high schoolers to promote organ donation. The organ and tissue donation registry, a voluntary database administered by the secretary of state, catalogs peoples’ wishes regarding organ donation after death. On Tuesday, Secretary of…
