CHICAGO — With a string of break-in’s and burglaries popping up in the city’s West Town Neighborhood, local business owners are feeling left vulnerable as business alliances and local politicians work to find solutions to the trend in crime.
Sara Dulkin, curator and owner of Chicago Tru-Born, was unaware of the recent rash of burglaries on Chicago Avenue in the city’s West Town neighborhood — And although her art gallery wasn’t hit — Learning about these incidents has left her worried.
“It’s the biggest fear of any small business owner,” Dulkin told WGN’s Andrea Medina Tuesday evening.
Dulkin pointed out that many owners like herself have little control over crimes that happen overnight, while their businesses are closed and they’re at home.
East Village Association (EVA) President Jenifer Goldsmith told WGN News people living and working in the area have voiced similar concerns about the surge in break-in’s, robberies and other crimes.
“Through the pandemic and of course leading up to know it has gotten that much worse,” Goldsmith said.
The EVA president also mentioned that some business owners are making efforts to implement measures that dissuade criminals from targeting their businesses.
“They’ve stopped taking cash for example in order to try to prevent some of these robberies and break-in’s happening in the middle of the night,” Goldsmith said.
The Chicago Police Department’s Area 3 Bureau of Detectives released a surveillance video Tuesday showing suspects breaking into a business in the 1400 block of West Carroll Avenue.
Police said they believe those suspects are connected to ten other burglaries that happened during the early morning hours, from Aug. 31 – Sept. 7.
Incident times and locations:
- 200 block of West Lake Street between Aug. 31 at 12 a.m. – Sept. 2 at 6 a.m.
- 2000 block of North Lincoln Avenue on Sept. 1 between 2 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.
- 1600 block of West Chicago Avenue between Sept. 3 at 6:45 a.m. – Sept. 4 at 6:47 a.m.
- 1700 block of West Chicago Avenue on Sept. 4 at 3:20 a.m.
- 1700 block of West Chicago Avenue on Sept. 4 at 4:13 a.m.
- 100 block of West Hubbard Street on Sept. 4 at 3:48 a.m.
- 1900 block of West Chicago Avenue on Sept. 4 at 4:19 a.m.
- 2000 block of North Halsted Street on Sept. 5 at 2:59 a.m.
- 2000 block of North Orchard Street on Sept. 5 at 3:12 a.m.
- 3000 block of North Southport Avenue on Sept. 5 at 3:22 a.m.
- 1400 block of West Carroll Avenue on Sept. 7 and 4 a.m.
CPD described the four offenders as 1-2 males and two females, who were wearing black hooded sweatshirts, black ski masks, black pants and a dark olive green beanie, and used a dark Jeep Cherokee and a gray Audi SUV as get away vehicles.
According to police, the group used force to smash glass windows and doors to gain entry and allegedly steal safes, register drawers, electronics, clothing and money.
“What we’re seeing is a lot more people that are coming to restaurants, coming to these establishments,” said Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th Ward) “And so, as a result, burglars go where the money is at so, their opportunities are there.”
Villegas said neighbors have told him the neighborhood in his ward has been frequently targeted because it lacks sufficient police resources, with the district headquarters being based miles away in the Pilsen neighborhood.
Villegas said he has been pushing for the creation of a satellite police station nearby to tackle the problem.
“The lack of police officers in the area is what is emboldening these burglaries to come,” Villegas said.
CPD has no one in custody in relation to their investigation into the suspects seen in the surveillance video they released Tuesday.
In the mean time, The West Town Chamber of Commerce is also working to remind the business community about their security rebate program, which offers funding for safety upgrades like security windows, alarm systems and more.
More info on the WTCC’s safety rebate program can be found online here: https://www.westtownchamber.org/programs-applications