18 cars burglarized in South Loop parking garage

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Thieves smashed 18 car windows and stole valuables early Tuesday at a South Loop condo parking garage.

The thieves hit the private garage, located near South Michigan Avenue and East 24th Street, between midnight and 5 a.m.

The driver's side of Lew Shank's white BMW was trashed.

"It's a mystery," Shank said. "They didn't get in, but the damage is done."

Residents headed to work made the discovery - long after the thieves were gone. But they still had to clean up debris left from not only the smashed windows, but also side mirrors and doors damaged during attempts to get into the cars.

It is still unclear how the thieves got into parking lot, which is accessed by an opener or key.

Scott Margulis said the offenders not only broke out his passenger-side window, but stole a pair of shoes he had left in his car, along with his wallet which had his driver's license, money and credit cards inside.

"I thought this was a safe garage. I just moved in here a month ago and I got to deal with this now. Unfortunate, but luckily nobody was hurt," Margulis said.

The break-ins come roughly one week after five South Loop businesses nearby were hit by smash-and-grab burglars.

Police are investigating both the car break-ins and smash-and-grabs.

Security camera installed inside the parking garage could help in the investigation.

Meanwhile, Shank and others in the building and neighborhood have been left on edge.

"They say they're going to beef up patrols. Hopefully they will do that. I'm really concerned. I'm really concerned," Shank said.