Detectives are investigating a string of business burglaries that have been happening in the overnight hours. In nearly all of the cases, force has been used to enter the businesses. Cash boxes, register drawers, and merchandise have been taken.
Last Tuesday was particularly eventful, with two Boystown shops being targeted along with another n nearby Uptown.
• A nail salon in the 600 block of West Cornelia lost its safe, cash box, and other items to a burglar who threw a rock through the front window to gain entry. The break-in was discovered by a passer-by around 6:15 a.m.
• A cosmetics store in the 600 block of West Belmont was burglarized by a man who kicked in the shop’s rear door. The cash register was targeted. A worker discovered the burglary mid-day.
• Around 8:30 a.m., a passer-by reported seeing a masked man hurriedly stuffing merchandise into a backpack inside the Metro PCS store at 4401 North Clark. Police determined that the back door had been kicked in. Phones were found “strewn across the floor,” according to a report. A video showed the burglar to be a man dressed in a bright blue jacket with a bright yellow stripe around the waist. The suspect wore dark work pants, a green hoodie pulled over his head, and possibly a mask. A crowbar was used to pry the door open, according to police
Other similar cases have been reported in the 19th District this month:
• A restaurant’s safe was compromised in the 2400 block of North Lincoln on March 13.
• Around 2:15 a.m. on March 15, a would-be burglar broke a side window to enter a restaurant in the 1800 block of West Diversey. Nothing was taken. The suspect was male, 5’11” tall, and wore black boots, jeans, and a two-tone backpack, police said.
• Around 5 a.m. on March 15, a restaurant in the 900 block of West Buena was burglarized by an offender who broke glass to enter, police said.
Police are recommending that no cash be left in stores overnight. Safes should be securely bolted to floors and valuable merchandise should be locked securely after closing. Alarm systems and video cameras should be inspected to ensure that they function correctly, officers advised.
