Thieves have stolen at least two more cars near the intersection of Belmont and Clark streets since Chicago police warned Tuesday about a streak of eight auto thefts there. The crime pattern involves vehicles that were left running and unattended by drivers.
The CPD community alert said a group of young auto thieves has stolen eight cars from the immediate area since April 21. Many of the stolen cars were left idling by food delivery drivers while they ran into nearby restaurants to pick up orders, according to police reports.
Most recently, a thief jumped into a red Acura SUV that a delivery driver left running outside a restaurant on the 3300 block of North Clark around 5:20 p.m. Friday.
And a gray Lexus sedan was stolen around 2 p.m. Tuesday as it sat idling outside the Target store at 3200 North Clark, according to police records.
Nearly all of the thefts have taken place during evening hours when dinner deliveries spike, according to police records.
Police said cars were taken on the 900 block of West Belmont at 7:50 p.m. on April 27; at 5:32 p.m. and again at 10 p.m. on April 30; and at 3:35 p.m. on May 2.
Other thefts were reported in the immediate area on the 3300 block of North Clark at 6:30 p.m. April 21; the 3200 block of North Clark at 6:45 p.m. April 24; the 800 block of West Belmont at 5:21 p.m. on April 28; and on the 3100 block of North Clark at 10 p.m. on April 30.
Another car was taken about a half-mile away in the 3600 block of North Clark at 9:10 p.m. on April 25, police said in a community alert.
Anyone with information about the thefts can contact detectives at 312-744-8263 regarding pattern P20-3-094.