Chicago police investigating business burglaries in Lakeview

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago police are investigating multiple business burglaries that happened early Thursday on the city's North Side.

The crimes happened on North Southport Avenue in Lakeview, police said. Break-ins in the bustling corridor of popular restaurants and retail are part of a troubling burglary trend impacting Lakeview and other parts of the city.

One of the businesses targeted was Little Goat Diner, a culinary home of celebrity chef and James Beard Award winner Stephanie Izard.

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A business break-in was reported around midnight in the 3300 block of North Southport Avenue, and another was reported around 2:29 a.m. in the 3400 block of North Southport Avenue, CPD said.

In each crime, a "male wearing a surgical mask, gray hooded sweatshirt, gloves, black pants, black backpack and black gym shoes," broke into businesses by breaking a side window or prying a rear door, police said. The suspect attempted to steal from cash registers.

Carly Wilson, associate director of operations at the BOKA Restaurant Group, is director of operations at Little Goat Diner, a popular eatery at Southport and Henderson.

"[Izard] was actually the one to call me this morning," Wilson said. "Definitely not a great way to start her day, either. Not what she wants to see when she comes to her restaurant."

Wilson says video shows a suspect breaking a window with a rock before reaching in and pulling open an empty cash register drawer.

"He did not come inside the business," Wilson said. "It was just a smash the window and try to reach in, but no, he didn't end up taking anything thankfully for us."

The ABC 7 Neighborhood Safety Tracker, which analyzes CPD data, shows burglaries citywide are up 15% in the past 12 months compared to the average of the last three years. In Lakeview, such break-ins have steadily risen from fewer than 200 in 2021 to nearly 300 in 2024, and even more last year.

"We have a great community of business owners on Southport," Wilson said. "There are a ton of local businesses. All of us stay connected through a group chat, so whenever something happens to one of us, everyone is immediately aware."

No arrests have been made as Chicago police continue to investigate.

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