Multiple ATM burglaries, thefts reported across Chicago's South Side
CHICAGO (CBS) — Another spree of ATM burglaries and thefts struck across the city's South Side Friday morning.
In one case, the suspects used a chain, and in another, they entered the business through the roof.
The first incident happened just before 4 a.m. at the Save Big Food Mart in the 1900 block of East 95th Street in the Calumet Heights neighborhood.
Surveillance video showed that after the crew smashed out the front door's glass window, they broke in and wrapped a chain around the machine, then used a truck to pull it outside.
At that point, the burglars threw the ATM into the back of a blue pickup truck and left the scene in a black sport-utility vehicle, in an unknown direction.
The ATM was recovered a short time later in the 1000 block of West 120th Street in the West Pullman neighborhood.
Less than an hour later, around 4:57 a.m., three suspects broke the front window of a Walgreens store in the 9100 block of South Commercial Avenue in the South Chicago neighborhood and took money from cash registers. An ATM inside was damaged, but no money was taken from it.
The group fled the scene in an unknown direction.
Minutes after, around 5:20 a.m., burglars forced their way through the roof of a liquor store in the 1000 block of East 93rd Street in the Burnside neighborhood. Once inside, they damaged an ATM, but it's unclear if any money was taken.
However, the burglars left behind a massive hole in the ceiling and caused thousands of dollars in damage. The owners of the store said they are not sure when they will be able to get the ceiling fully repaired—let alone the ATM.
A fourth incident happened in the 8100 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue in the East Chatham neighborhood. Police could not immediately provide details on this incident.
Surveillance video captured the burglaries at two of the four businesses that were hit early Friday morning. The owners did not want to go on camera, but said these burglaries are major hits to their bottom line.
David Tente, president of the ATM Security Association, said some states have laws on the books specifically on ATM thefts.
"There are a few states that have passed their own laws for ATM theft, but not Illinois," said Tente.
Tente's group has been tracking the rise in crimes targeting ATMs.
"A 600% increase from 2019 to 2022," he said.
Tente said 55% to 60% of ATMs independently owned.
"The ATM is really a pretty important piece of equipment for most retail establishments," he said.
Tente explained there is a reason small business owners want to keep ATMs in their stores.
"It does increase foot traffic," Tente said. "People come in to use it. Also, 25 to 50% or so who of those who use the ATM spend some of that cash in the store itself."
But with thefts on the rise, it's foot traffic that's not worth it for some.
"It's definitely affecting insurance rates," he said. "If the thefts are very, very common, all of a sudden, the insurance company may either raise your rates or deny you coverage for that particular type of theft," Tente said.
Chicago Police said they are still investigating all of these burglaries, and no one was in custody late Friday.
Police also did not confirm if the burglaries and thefts were connected.
