A Chicago man has been arrested for a rash of burglaries targeting Oak Lawn and Worth businesses with video gaming machines.
Juelz Johnson, 18, of the 11400 block of South Forest Avenue, was arrested Feb. 27 by Oak Lawn police in connection with the burglaries.
Johnson was charged March 1 with two counts of burglary of Oak Lawn businesses. He was later charged with two burglaries in Worth.
Oak Lawn police said the first break-in occurred at 5:30 a.m. January 8 at La Cocina De Mama Restaurant, 5721 W. 95th St.
Police said that when they arrived they found a burglary in progress. A group of 8-10 men fled the scene in multiple vehicles. Police lost the suspects after a brief chase.
The men were breaking into video gambling machines and got away with cash. Several machines were damaged during the burglary.
A second Oak Lawn business was hit on February 5 when officers were called to a reported burglary at the Hashtag 95 restaurant, 6260 W. 95th St., at 5:20 a.m.
Police said four men forcibly entered the business and targeted video gaming machines. Cash was taken and several machines were damaged.
Johnson was also charged with burglary of JD’s Cafe, 6606 W. 111th St. in Worth, on January 8 and Elsie’s Place, 6901 W. 111th St. in Worth, on January 10. Elsie’s Place was also hit by burglars in October.
“Our investigators are working diligently to apprehend the offenders connected to these break-ins,” said Worth Deputy Police Chief Robert Petersen.
Oak Lawn police are working with neighboring law enforcement agencies to investigate the rash of similar burglaries.
Two men were also charged this week with burglaring Anna’s Gaming Cafe in Midlothian. Petersen said they were not wanted in connection to the Worth break-ins.