CLOSE ONE: Suspected Burglars Narrowly Escape Cops In Boystown; Break-In Reports Continue

Chicago police came very close to catching a group of suspected burglars Tuesday afternoon in Boystown.

Police (center) search for burglary suspects in Boystown Tuesday.

Two citizens who share an alley in the 600 blocks of Aldine and Buckingham reported suspicious activity around 1PM.

First, a woman in the 600 block of Aldine reported that a suspicious person snuck into her building when a FedEx driver opened the front door.

Less than 3 minutes later, a man who lives almost directly behind the woman on Buckinham reported two suspicious men lurking in the alley near a garage.

When police arrived, the two men sped off in a black 2011 Ford Escape. They were in such a hurry, they left the tailgate open and “a bunch of debris” spilled out, police said.

Officers subsequently learned that the vehicle was recently reported stolen from the 900 block of Fullerton in Lincoln Park.

Cops noticed two open doors on a nearby apartment building, but they were not able to determine if anything had been stolen from residences or storage areas.

A black 2011 Ford Escape

Here are some recently burglary incidents around the area:

December 12 
6:16AM — Burglary confirmed to an apartment in the 900 block of W. Roscoe.

11:12AM — Another burglary confirmed. 3900 block of N. Southport.

12:12PM — An employee of Reflections Salon, 3416 N. Sheffield, reports that someone broke into the business overnight and drilled open their ATM safe. $7,000 loss reported.

December 9
10:40PM — Two men are seen breaking into Las Mananitas Mexican restaurant at 3523 N. Halsted. Police arrive to confirm the break-in, but not before the offenders get away in a black or gray vehicle with Michigan plates.

December 8
9:25PM — A woman reports that two men are trying to break into the back door of her condo in the 3200 block of N. Clifton. The offenders push the woman down and then run away. Police confirm that they tried to pry open the woman’s door. Offender descriptions: two black males who stand about 5’10” tall and weigh about 165 pounds.

December 6
7:50PM — A neighbor reports two suspicious men hanging out on her neighbor’s front porch in the 700 block of W. Schubert. Soon afterwards, the neighbor reports that someone broke into his house, trashed the place, and proceeded to steal his blue Toyota Highlander. A total of five offenders were responsible, according to a source, who added that the two suspicious men on the front porch were apparently working as lookouts.

December 4
8:43PM — Three offenders in light-colored hoodies break into Casey Moran’s bar, 3660 N. Clark. It’s the second night in a row that the bar has been burglarized, police say. The three burglars are described only as Hispanic men, two of whom wear glasses.

11:19PM — Here’s an interesting one. A woman reports that “the bureau’s” vehicle has been burglarized in the 1900 block of W. Fullerton. It is not clear which “bureau” owns the car, but ammunition, handcuffs, and a law enforcement radio were taken.

November 28
4:40AM — A woman reports that an offender entered her apartment in the 1000 block of W. Wellington while she slept. The offender is described as a black man who stands about 6-feet tall. He was wearing a red beanie cap and a gray hoodie. Police classify the case as a home invasion.