CHICAGO — Perhaps no crime has caused more frustration across Chicago this year than the seemingly endless nighttime burglaries of businesses, usually restaurants and bars. CPD has released dozens of community alerts about various burglary teams this year, but very few arrests have been made.
Through December 22, restaurant burglaries were up 18% over last year. Tavern and liquor store break-ins were up 24%, and small retail stores were up 32%, according to CPD data.
This month, two men accused separately of being serial business burglars reached plea deals with prosecutors. A third recently pleaded guilty to burglarizing and robbing businesses. Here’s a look at how they fared in court…
A dozen charges bring 4 years
In June 2023, prosecutors accused Charvale Bass of burglarizing a dozen restaurants and stores across Wicker Park, Humboldt Park, and West Town. During overnight hours, Bass used rocks, bricks, or chunks of concrete to break windows or glass doors of businesses, officials said. He crawled through the openings, stole cash registers and safes, and frequently escaped in a silver Nissan.
Shortly before his arrest, Chicago police secured a warrant to install a GPS tracker on the Nissan. Three days later, the tracker allegedly showed Bass’ vehicle at the scene of three burglaries.
Finally, detectives put the car under surveillance and watched as Bass allegedly broke into Slide Bar, 939 South Western Avenue, at 4 a.m. on May 31, 2023. Bass bailed out of the car as cops moved in, then ran into a building and tried to escape by jumping from the third floor. Police arrested him after he landed ungracefully.
In addition to Slide Bar, prosecutors linked Bass to burglaries at Crater Foods, 1148 North Milwaukee; Output Bar, 1758 West Grand; Beetle Bar and Grill, 2532 West Chicago Avenue; Burger Baron, 1381 West Grand; and Don’s Grill, 1837 South Western Avenue. He was also linked to restaurant burglaries in the 2300 block of West North Avenue, the 2500 block of West Division, the 3700 block of West North Avenue, the 4100 block of West North Avenue, the 3200 block of West Fullerton, the 4200 block of West Fullerton, the 3500 block of West Fullerton, and the 3000 block of West Armitage.
Court records show that on December 17, Bass pleaded guilty to five counts of burglary. Judge Anjana Hansen sentenced him to four years on each charge, to be served concurrently. Prosecutors dropped all of the other burglary cases.
After receiving the state’s standard 50% sentence reduction for good behavior and credit for time spent in custody and on an ankle monitor, he is expected to be paroled on May 20.
5 years for 9-time felon
Timothy Jackson was on probation for stealing a safe from a Streeterville salon (while he was on parole for three felonies) when prosecutors charged him with burglarizing a River North restaurant earlier this year.
Chicago cops arrested the 33-year-old around 2:15 a.m. on January 31 after responding to a burglar alarm at Coco Pazzo, 300 West Hubbard. They said they found him lying next to a stairwell on the fourth floor.
A surveillance video from the restaurant showed Jackson forcing the restaurant doors open, according to his CPD arrest report. Once inside, he grabbed some Hennessey from the bar, tried to open the cash register, and checked out the basement.
Last week, Jackson pleaded guilty to felony burglary in exchange for a five-year sentence from Judge Aleksandra Gillespie.
10 years for robberies, 7 for burglaries
Jaylen Smith did not fare as well as Jackson and Bass, partly because he was accused of robbing some businesses in addition to a burglary.
Earlier this year, prosecutors said the 19-year-old went on a one-night spree that started when he jumped the counter at Subway, 4759 West Fullerton, around 3:15 a.m. on January 9. Officials said Smith demanded the cashier’s phone and the restaurant’s cash.
Later, Smith allegedly used a rock to break the glass at McGee’s Tavern and Grille, 950 West Webster. He allegedly went inside with two accomplices, picked up a bag from a chair, and then fled upon seeing that there were other people inside the bar.
Finally, around 6:45 a.m., Smith allegedly jumped the counter at 7-Eleven, 6801 North Sheridan. Prosecutors said he took cash from the register, cigarettes, liquor, and the cashier’s phone.
Smith resolved the cases by pleading guilty to two counts of robbery and two counts of burglary. Judge Joanne Rosado sentenced him to ten years for each robbery and seven for each burglary. The time will be served concurrently.
He is expected to be paroled in February 2029 after serving five years.
