Businesses across Chicago have been hit hard by burglars over the past couple of years. Incidents citywide were up 3% in 2024, primarily due to increases in commercial burglaries rather than residential break-ins.
Now, prosecutors have charged two men with being part of a prolific burglary crew that either used chains to rip the doors off targeted businesses or gained entry by ramming the stores with stolen vehicles.
Marquez “Smoke” Robinson, 25, and Keshawn Howze, 27, are not accused of directly working together, but Chicago police publicly linked the burglaries they are accused of participating in with the same group of burglars. In one community alert, investigators said the group was responsible for at least 23 break-ins, including the four Robinson and Howze are charged with…