ATM burglars strike again in Lakeview, West Loop

A burglary crew is stealing ATMs from locations across the city, and their most recent targets are a Lakeview currency exchange and a West Loop restaurant, according to police and a CPD report. CWB Chicago first told you about the thieves Saturday morning after they broke into a Ravenswood bank’s ATM. Now, police say they’ve committed at least seven similar crimes since Thursday.

CPD issued a community alert on Saturday night to warn about the group, which is driving around in a white Jeep Cherokee. The crew pries open the doors to businesses and then forces their way into the ATM, police said.

The Clark Diversey Currency Exchange at 2735 North Clark. | Google

Most recently, the burglars struck at Clark Diversey Currency Exchange, 2735 North Clark, around 6 a.m. Saturday. A witness said men broke through the front glass door and took the ATM’s contents.

Police said the burglars committed two other burglaries Saturday. Around 4:30 a.m., they took the ATM from Porkchop, 1132 West Grand. A few minutes later, they hit a location on the 2000 block of East 87th. The Twitter account Spot News identified the 87th Street location as a chicken restaurant.

CPD says the team also hit Flee Club, 2221 West Taylor, around 6 a.m. Friday. Earlier that morning, they broke into the ATM at Chase bank, 1809 West Lawrence, and a 24-hour laundromat on the 1400 block of East 47th in Kenwood. Police said the offenders escaped in a white Jeep Cherokee.

The first burglary that police linked to the team occurred around 6 a.m. Thursday on the 1600 block of East 75th, according to the community alert.

Police said the burglars are a group of three to five Black males who travel in a white Jeep Cherokee Trail Hawk with no license plates.

Anyone with information about the crimes can contact Area Two detectives at 312-747-8273.

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