CHICAGO — An 18-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy are charged with a host of felonies in connection with a wave of nighttime business burglaries this week.
More than a dozen locations, mostly bars and restaurants, were burglarized by a five-person crew. Stores along Lincoln Avenue in North Center and Lincoln Square were especially hard hit. Rather than quit while they were ahead, the crew pressed their luck by continuing to strike businesses as they headed back south.
Chicago cops who responded quickly to a burglary call at New Archview restaurant, 3480 South Archer, saw the burglars driving away from the scene, according to CPD records. Officers pursued the Kia Optima until its five occupants bailed out around 2 a.m.
A canine unit found 18-year-old Vernon Edwards hiding in a yard in the 4400 block of South Troy, a CPD report said. Cops arrested the 15-year-old nearby, but the other three burglars got away.
Edwards is charged with one count of burglary for allegedly breaking into each of these businesses:
- Market Square, 4701 North Lincoln
- #1 Chop Suey, 2550 West Addison
- AT&T, 1724 West Lawrence
- Franco’s Ristorante, 300 West 31st Street
- New Archview Restaurant, 3480 South Archer
He is also charged with one count of attempted armed robbery. Officials said the burglars encountered an employee after breaking into Roscoe Village Pub, 2159 West Addison, and Edwards tried to rob the worker at gunpoint.
A CPD spokesperson said the juvenile is charged with four counts of burglary. He also had an outstanding warrant.
Charges have not been filed in connection with at least ten more burglaries that occurred that night, including:
- Starbucks, 4557 North Lincoln
- Wild Goose Bar, 4265 North Lincoln
- Country Financial, 4306 North Lincoln
- Pastores Brunch, 4661 North Lincoln
- Rocks North Center, 4138 North Lincoln
- Bad Apple Bar & Grill, 4300 North Lincoln
- Gannon’s Pub, 4264 North Lincoln
- Breakfast House, 3001 North Ashland
- Dreamtown Real Estate, 4553 North Lincoln
- Mangis Restaurant, 3801 North Lincoln
Judge David Kelly ordered Edwards jailed to await trial during a detention hearing Thursday afternoon.
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