CHICAGO — In March, prosecutors said Chicago police identified Dantrell Jackson as the serial burglar who stole safes and cash from businesses because surveillance cameras captured images of a unique heart-shaped tattoo on his face.
Jackson was arrested again this week. Prosecutors say he broke into another business on July 13. He was wearing his electronic monitoring bracelet at the time, according to a Chicago police report.
Officials say video showed Jackson, 29, burglarizing a business in the 2200 block of South Canal in Chinatown on July 13, taking cash and credit cards. You’ve probably figured out how detectives identified the burglar. Chicago police and Cook County sheriff’s deputies arrested Jackson at his home on Wednesday.
Just four months ago, Assistant State’s Attorney Victoria Chavez said Jackson broke into 312 Nails, 500 North State, around 6:45 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and took cash while having his mask pulled down to his chin.
On February 21, Jackson and a woman entered the Frida Room, 1454 West 18th, and unsuccessfully tried to break into the safe, Chavez continued. After giving up on that, they allegedly stole cleaning supplies and escaped in a maroon Chevy Impala.
Then, on March 13, Jackson broke into Bar Takito, 201 North Morgan, Chavez said. He collected credit cards from a register and stole two safes from the basement. Cameras also recorded him moving his maroon Chevy Impala closer to the restaurant door so he could load it with the safes, according to Chavez.
A few days later, Jackson allegedly hauled a safe out of Smyth and The Loyalist, 177 North Ada, as his face covering slid down to expose his heart tattoo.
Jackson posted bail and went home on electronic monitoring two days after his March bond hearing, court records show.
This week, Judge David Kelly held him without bail for violating his terms of release. Should he become eligible for release, Kelly said he’d need to pay an additional $5,000 bail deposit to be released on the new burglary charge.
Prosecutors said Jackson has four felony convictions: retail theft, manufacture-delivery of a controlled substance, and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a felon in 2016 and 2018.
