Chicago police investigating gas station crash-and-grab thefts

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago police are investigating several crash-and-grab thefts Wednesday morning.

At one incident, a clerk said thieves smashed into an Englewood gas station and stole an ATM.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

The incident occurred at a gas station in the 7000-block of South Ashland Avenue.

"I was shocked because this is a busy store and everything people come in at different rate rates," store security guard Al Evans said.

The security footage shows the suspects using an dark colored SUV to break through the building's glass window and exterior wall before gaining entry and stealing one of the business's two ATMs.

Witnesses said the thieves picked the ATM, put it in a waiting minivan and then took off. The clerk said he was not injured.

"I was going into the back, I heard a 'boom,'" The clerk said. "This happened before, but only drunk driving, they had hit it before. That is what I am thinking it is. When I see the guy go back and hit it again., he hit it like four or five times. When he hit it that fifth time, he knocked all of that out. The guys got out so calm. You could see that they knew what they were doing."

Chicago police said the thieves left in a waiting vehicle.

In the Avondale neighborhood, Chicago police responded at about 2:50 a.m. to a burglary at a gas station in the 3300-block of North Kimball Avenue.

A witness told police that a dark-colored SUV drove into the front of the gas station and three male suspects got out and stole an ATM before fleeing. No injuries were reported.

A third crash-and-grab burglary occurred at a business at about 2:22 a.m. in the 4000-block of North Clark Street.

Police said a dark-colored SUV crashed into the business and a male suspect attempted to steal a cash register, but was not successful. The suspect fled in a dark-colored Jeep.

Ayiana Davis said police told her that her SUV was used in one of the crimes after it was stolen off the street near 68th and Normal.

Despite the damage to her Jeep, the nail tech is just happy to get her vehicle back.

"Terrible, this is the second time it happened, the second time it happened." Davis said. "This is the first time that I know where my car is and what they did with it, but this is definitely the second time that they did it. It's definitely terrible."

Fortunately, no one was hurt during any of the incidents. Police have not said if the thefts are connected.

INTERACTIVE SAFETY TRACKER Track crime and safety in your neighborhood