Thieves targeting Chicago laundromats, leave thousands of dollars' worth of damage, police warn

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago police issued a warning as thieves have been targeting laundromats and their coin machines.

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In one week, there were at least three incidents in Logan Square and Humboldt Park.

In one of the burglaries, detectives say an entire DVR system was taken out of the laundromat.

The most recent happened at Aqua Clean Laundry along North Avenue and Humboldt Boulevard early Sunday morning.

In each incident, burglars got in through the back door or broke the windows before taking change machines, and money from cash registers, Chicago police said.

Investigators said the thieves drive off in a white sedan.

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Last Friday night, another laundromat was targeted near Diversey and Sacramento.

A manager of that location told ABC7 off camera that burglars cut the internet wires before entering, which killed their security cameras.

The suspects got away with $200 in that case.

Tuesday, Dec. 23, a laundromat near Division and Rockwell was also burglarized early in the morning.

That location is also left with damage to its doors and windows.

Customers said they'll be taking extra precautions.

Someone at one of laundromats that was targeted says thousands of dollars' worth of damage was done to coin machines and computers, and that business owner now has foot the bill.

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