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| Melvin Smith (inset) stole dozens of packs of cigarettes from this Lincoln Park gas station, prosecutors say. |
A Lincoln Park man who broke into a gas station and stole dozens of packs of cigarettes this month is charged with felony burglary, prosecutors say.
A witness reported seeing a man break into the gas station at 2670 North Lincoln around 12:30 a.m. on March 14. Arriving officers found a smashed window, a brick, blood on some shelving and “multiple empty cigarette shelves,” according to their report.
Cops stopped 57-year-old Melvin Smith nearby because he matched the witness’ description of the offender. Smith was holding a backpack, and his hand was bleeding, officers said.
The bag contained 68 packs of smokes, including Marlboros, Pall Malls, Capri Violets, and L&M Menthols, police said.
A judge set Smith’s bail at $75,000.
The May 14 break-in was the second time that Lincoln Park Gas had been burglarized in three weeks. A smash ‘n’ grab burglar took smokes from them on April 28, too.
