A crew of burglars targeted at least three businesses across Chicago early Thursday morning.
Surveillance video captured the group hitting shops in the Loop, Rogers Park, and Wrigleyville.
Police believe the suspects were specifically after ATM machines at each location.
The first break-in occurred just after 3 a.m. at ChiTown Food & Deli on Wabash Avenue in the Loop.
Footage shows a white SUV pulling up to the storefront.
Two suspects jumped out of the vehicle while a third waited inside the car.
The men smashed the glass window to gain entry to the brand-new business.
Owner Yousif Abdulla told ABC7 reporters the thieves tried to take the ATM but failed.
They left behind roughly $1,000 in property damage but no money was stolen.
Abdulla opened the deli only two weeks ago and expressed shock at the bold crime.
The entire smash-and-grab lasted just over one minute.
Crime Spree Moves North
The suspects did not stop their activities after the failed attempt in the Loop.
Around 3:45 a.m., Exotic Food & Snacks on Sheridan Road in Rogers Park was targeted.
Officers found the front of the shop breached and the ATM tampered with.
Again, the burglars were unable to remove the machine or the cash inside.
Ten minutes later, the crew arrived at the famous Sluggers World Class Sports Bar in Wrigleyville.
Surveillance at the Clark Street staple showed three suspects breaking in.
The thieves attempted to pry the ATM open but eventually gave up and fled.
Witnesses noted the suspects drove off in a white vehicle similar to the one seen in the Loop.
A Growing Pattern of ATM Theft
This spree highlights a frustrating trend for business owners in these high-traffic neighborhoods.
Sluggers management reported this is the fourth time they have been burglarized in three years.
The owner stated that crime has become their “number one competition” in the city.
In the Loop, business owners have recently voiced concerns over late-night property crimes.
Rogers Park has also seen a spike in smash-and-grabs targeting small convenience stores.
Last month, a similar “ATM crew” hit several locations on the North Side using a stolen SUV.
Chicago Police have not yet confirmed if these three Thursday incidents are officially connected.
Detectives are currently reviewing high-definition footage from all three crime scenes.
No suspects are in custody as of Thursday afternoon.
