They did it again.
For the second night this month and third night in 10 days, a slick ATM theft crew prowled the North Side early Thursday. And, once again, they got away with a small business’ cash machine.
Police followed one of the crew’s cars for several miles after this morning’s burglary, but CPD supervisors ordered the cops to stop following the serial offenders — even though the officers said they weren’t involved in a pursuit.
Today’s break-in happened around 1:30 a.m. at North Shore Food & Liquors, 6701 North Clark, in Rogers Park. A neighbor called police after they saw the burglary in progress. They even recorded much of the heist on video.
The burglary followed the same pattern that police and witnesses described in previous incidents. Two cars, usually a couple of Jeep Cherokees, pulled up to the store with six men. Four of the men got out, broke into the business, and hauled away its ATM and cash register.
Police on Thursday spotted the two Jeeps — one white, one gray — running red lights in the area. The SUVs split up and officers managed to trail one of them from Uptown all the way to Bucktown before supervisors ordered the cops to return to their district.
Early Monday, the crew targeted two Mexican restaurants in Lakeview and another in Bucktown.
Last Tuesday, January 26, the thieves struck a series of stores across Lakeview and Lincoln Park during overnight hours. They wrapped up that spree by ripping the ATM out of an Old Town service station that was open for business.
Police issued two community alerts about the burglary team later the same day. In those bulletins, detectives linked the break-ins to a series of other retail break-ins reported in Lincoln Park on December 26, January 1, and January 20.
According to CPD, the crew consisted of about six Black males between 18- and 30-years-old who wore masks, gloves, and dark clothing.
Anyone with information about the burglars can contact Area Three detectives at 312-744-8263.