Crash-And-Grab Duo Attempts Burglary At Clothing Boutique In Beverly
Updated 07/02/15 - 10:16 a.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A high-end clothing shop in Beverly was targeted by a crash-and-grab crew early Thursday, but they didn't manage to get inside.
Glass was scattered over the sidewalk in front of The Shop 147, at the corner of 95th Street and Claremont Avenue, after burglars drove a stolen silver Dodge Caravan into the entrance around 4:15 a.m.
Ald. Matt O'Shea (19th) said the crooks did not get inside. He said surveillance video showed the vehicle hitting the front window, but missing the door.
"The silver Dodge Caravan behind me plowed head-first through the front of the store here. Luckily, the driver wasn't very good at what he was doing, because they could not gain access to the building," he said.
O'Shea said the surveillance video shows two men arguing in front of the store after the crash.
"The two individuals that perpetrated this crime, after the driver wasn't successful in penetrating the building, they began to argue, and then fled the scene," he said.
Nonetheless, store owner Ronnie Atieh said it's frustrating having been burglarized several times before, both at The Shop 147, and at other stores he owns. He said this was the first time someone used a vehicle to smash their way inside.
"I guess it's the new thing, now. It's like everybody's doing it, you know? It's getting played out," he said.
Police said the minivan had been stolen, as is typically the case with crash-and-grab heists.
Even though the crooks didn't manage to take any merchandise, Atieh said it appears they knew what they were looking for. Among other brands, The Shop 147 sells Robin's Jeans – which sell for $200 to $1,000 a pair – and Rockstar Original jeans, which sell for up to $625 a pair.
"You know, all the high-end brands, the premium brands, the brands that everybody's looking for. The expensive ones; you know, $500, $600 jeans. But this is getting tiring. It's getting really tiring. You know, this is the third, fourth attempt they've tried to do in my store. I've been here a year and a half," he said. "They come in the night before, the week before. They check out the store, see where everything's at, and then they make their move."
No one was in custody Thursday morning.