Chicago police are warning business owners in Wicker Park and Logan Square after a string of early morning smash-and-grab burglaries in which crews have stolen large quantities of merchandise.
According to a community alert issued by CPD, the burglaries occurred in the early morning hours and involved forced entry through front doors. In some cases, offenders shattered glass with crowbars. In another, they allegedly rammed a vehicle directly through a storefront.
One confirmed burglary occurred at 4:40 a.m. on December 11 at the Carhartt store, 1518 North Milwaukee Avenue, in Wicker Park. After the store’s key holder arrived, investigators reviewed surveillance footage that showed six offenders arriving in a white panel van that parked in front of the business facing south on Milwaukee Avenue.
Video reportedly showed the offenders popping the hood of the van to make it appear disabled while one of the men used a crowbar to smash the front window. All six entered the store wearing gloves, removed boxes and large amounts of merchandise, and fled southbound in the van…