A burglary crew smashed its way into more than 10 businesses along two blocks of the Wells Street business corridor in Old Town early Thursday, leaving broken storefronts and frustrated business owners in its wake. The latest overnight spree has Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) once again calling on Chicago police to adopt technology that could help officers track fleeing suspects without engaging in dangerous vehicle pursuits.
Just before 4 a.m., at least three men exited a white Honda Passport and broke windows and glass doors of businesses along the 1400 and 1500 blocks of North Wells Street. The affected businesses appeared to have little in common. A salon, an ice cream shop, a bar, a tobacco shop, a Mexican restaurant, and numerous other storefronts were hit. Hopkins said more than 10 businesses were hit.
“These crimes violate the security of our neighborhood and leave local businesses to absorb the costs of stolen property, damaged storefronts, and interrupted operations,” Hopkins said. “Business owners should not have to begin their day sweeping up broken glass, and our community should not be expected to accept these incidents as routine.”…