Business burglaries continue on North Side; Loop clothing store struck twice in a week

A recently-looted Verizon store in Edgewater. | Provided

More North Side businesses have fallen victim to burglars who are targeting small electronics and cash that has been left in registers. Chicago police issued warnings about similar crimes in October, November, and earlier this month.

The most recently-targeted businesses include Allende restaurant, 2408 North Lincoln, on Dec. 3rd; Los Arcos restaurant at 5525 North Clark on Dec. 5th; Oberweis Dairy, 3055 North Sheffield, at 7:23 a.m. on Dec. 6th; My Eye Doctor, 3760 North Broadway, at 7:07 a.m. on Dec. 8th; and BB Cleaners at 4638 North Clark on Dec. 8th.

A witness saw the Oberweis burglar throw bricks through the shop’s front door to gain entry. The burglar was gone by the time police arrived. Front glass has been broken or rear doors pried open to gain entry to the targeted shops.

Loop double-dipper

This man is sought in connection with two burglaries of a Loop clothing store. | CPD

Meanwhile, police in the Loop are searching for a man who broke into a downtown Akira store twice last week.

The Loop incidents are not believed to be related to the burglaries reported farther north, according to a source.

A community alert issued by Area Central detectives said the man seen here forced his way into a store in the 100 block of South State by breaching the revolving door at 1:40 a.m. on Dec. 5th and again during the early morning hours of Dec. 9th. Once inside the store, the man “took as many articles of clothing as he was able to carry,” police said.

Police did not identify the Akira store by name, but the location was confirmed to CWBChicago by a source.

The suspect is described as a slim black male in his early 30’s who stands about 5’6” tall and has dreadlocks. He was seen wearing a Cubs coat.

Detectives offered several tactics for businesses to curb burglary risks:

• Keep the perimeter of your property well lighted.
• Update security video equipment.
• Report suspicious activity immediately.
• Keep doors and windows secured.
• Immediately repair any broken windows, doors or locks.
• If you are a victim do not touch anything, call police immediately.
• If approached by a witness to the incident, request contact information.

Anyone with information about the suspect seen in the photo can contact Area Central detectives at (312) 747-8384 regarding cases JB540658 and JB546084.
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About CWBChicago 4358 Articles
CWBChicago was created in 2013 by five residents of Wrigleyville and Boystown who had grown disheartened with inaccurate information that was being provided at local Community Policing (CAPS) meetings. Our coverage area has expanded since then to cover Lincoln Park, River North, The Loop, Uptown, and other North Side Areas. But our mission remains unchanged: To provide original public safety reporting with better context and greater detail than mainstream media outlets.