Manhattan’s South Side Tobacco and Vape was burglarized for the second time in as many months as a rash of similar-style burglaries has terrorized businesses in the area.
The smoke shop located at the North end of Manhattan on Route 52 was burglarized on January 23—barely two months after the December 1 incident—leaving its recently replaced front door glass in shards on the ground and thousands of dollars in cigarettes stolen.
Both incidents occurred overnight between 2:00 and 4:00 a.m. when the smoke shop was closed and unstaffed.
In each incident, the store’s alarm system was armed but failed to alert, allowing the smash-and-grabs to go off without a hitch.
In the second incident, the alarm, which had been armed shortly before 10:30 p.m., did not go off when the offenders entered the building just before 4:00 a.m. However, it did when the officer discovered the broken glass and entered the building at 5:22 a.m.
No other alarm activity was reported.
The store’s surveillance camera was operational during both incidents, capturing video and still images of the offenders. Police reports indicated that the Manhattan Police reviewed the surveillance footage and collected evidence, including photos of footprints left behind in each incident.
Surveillance images from the first incident posted on South Side Tobacco and Vape’s Facebook page show one of the offenders, a light-complected male wearing a below-the-nose ski mask and hooded jacket.
The bandits in the second burglary were also a duo— males of unknown race, one tall and slender and the other shorter, both dressed in black and wearing masks.
According to the incident reports, the vehicle used in the first incident was identified as a white SUV of an unknown make, model, or year; the second incident was a black SUV, possibly a Dodge Durango of an unknown model year.
Flock cameras captured a vehicle matching the description of the white SUV shortly after the first incident. The plate came back as a white Toyota SUV, but the images were of an Infinity SUV.
The plate was also frequently run in Minooka and Channahon.
The case report from the December incident indicated that shortly after the Manhattan burglary, a similar call for service was made at a Ridge Road business in Minooka.
The offender’s vehicle from the Minooka incident, which matched the description from the South Side Tobacco and Vape burglary, was observed traveling eastbound on I-80 at a high rate of speed.
No further information was available regarding that lead.
South Side Tobacco and Vape took to Facebook after the initial incident, urging anyone with information to notify police. They also responded to comments questioning whether the store had an alarm and about insurance.
“We have been trying to contact our alarm company but can’t get a call back from management,” South Side Tobacco and Vape said in their response to commenters on December 4.
They also stated that although the business has insurance, it will not cover all of its losses, and they expect premiums to go up due to the thefts.
No posts about the second burglary were made online. The owner of South Side Tobacco and Vape did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The first incident, which happened shortly before 3:00 a.m., resulted in the two offenders taking steal Marlboro, Pall Mall, American Spirits, Camel, and Newport cigarettes. Lucky Strikes were apparently lucky, as they remained untouched.
It was not discovered until nearly 9:00 a.m. due to the malfunctioning alarm system.
In the second heist, the burglars appeared to again only take cigarettes, ignoring $300 in cash that could’ve been easily located. They did not take any other merchandise or money.
In addition to the Manhattan burglaries and similar call in Minooka, neighboring communities New Lenox and Peotone each recently experienced similar burglaries.
At this time, there is not enough evidence to substantiate a connection between the New Lenox and Peotone incidents and the South Side Tobacco and Vape burglaries.
Manhattan Police Chief Ryan Gulli said they are investigating all possible connections.
In Peotone, the Peotone Travel Center was burglarized on January 4 just before 4:30 a.m. by four masked, gloved individuals who made off with rolls of scratch-off lotto tickets, leaving in a silver or gray Lincoln SUV.
On January 10, those same bandits robbed the Food N’ Fuel on Cedar Road on the far North side of New Lenox, threatening physical harm to employees and making off in a red pick-up truck with liquor, cigarettes, and more scratch-off tickets. This event occurred before midnight.
In both the New Lenox and Peotone incidents, the burglars used an app to rent a personal vehicle and then carried out the heists with the rentals.
Two of the subjects from the New Lenox and Peotone incidents were identified. At the time of publication, one had been charged with armed robbery and burglary for the New Lenox incident and burglary for the Peotone incident.
A press release from the New Lenox Police Department indicated that they were responsible for additional thefts in Matteson and Chicago and that the investigation was ongoing.
“It is sad and unfortunate that criminals prey upon hardworking businesses that contribute to our town. We will thoroughly investigate, follow all leads, and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law when the offender is located,” Gulli said.
“We as a department take these crimes seriously, and we’ll leave no stone unturned,” Gulli added.
Although no suspects have yet been identified in either of the South Side Tobacco and Vape incidents, Gulli was confident that they would find the offenders.
The investigation into both incidents is ongoing.
Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter.