Dozens of car windows smashed near downtown Chicago

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Dozens of car windows were smashed in the South Loop early Friday morning, and was not the first time such a thing has happened.

There were similar car break-ins in the South Loop in August, September, and December of last year – with several cars hit every time.  

Frustrated residents and drivers want to know what is being done about the vandalism. Police said they are looking into it all, but have not caught any of the people behind such vandalism in the past.

According to Chicago Police, a witness reported seeing three men get out of a black sedan, in the 1600 block of South Indiana Avenue around 2 a.m., and shatter the windows of 20 to 25 legally parked cars. 

"Criminal!" said one man. "It's so, so bad!"

He was one of dozens who came back to their cars Friday to find smashed glass and an unexpected headache.

"It's upsetting like waking up to this - especially living here in the city, and this keeps constantly happening," said Khrystyna Kostryba. "Nothing's kind of getting done about it."

For Ronnie Ata, this was the second time he has dealt with such vandalism since August. His AirPods were stolen.

It's unfortunate, but it could be worse, I guess," Ata said.

"It's a very upsetting kind of a thing," said Kostryba. "Like, why is this happening constantly?"

CBS 2 asked Chicago Police if any of the crews behind the break-ins have been caught. Police would only say they are still investigating.

Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd), who represents the community, said she is working with police:

"I am working closely with the neighbors and the Chicago Police Department to prevent these acts of vandalism. The police were able to respond to the reports of vandalism within seven minutes.  As a deterrent, we have cut back the trees in the neighborhood and are working with the City to bring better lighting to the area between 13th and 18th Streets. We also must make sure that there are consequences for these criminal activities."

No one was in custody late Friday in connection with the vandalism.