Burglars use chain, truck to rip gate off of South Side gas station, steal ATM, video shows

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Thieves used chains and a truck to pull the gates off of a South Side gas station early Thursday, Chicago police said.

It's a common trend that Chicago police are now warning businesses about, with police reporting at least 20 other similar break-ins on the South Side in the last couple of weeks.

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Businesses on the South Side of Chicago cannot catch a break from the recent string of smash and grabs, with thieves using vehicles that are believed to be stolen so they can snatch ATMs.

In the most recent crime, store owners told ABC7 Chicago it's going to cost thousands of dollars to replace the doors and security gate as the store was targeted for the third time. The crime happened just before 2 a.m. Thursday at a gas station at East 76th Street and South South Chicago Avenue.

"You don't expect these things in a gas station... every time it happens the damage is more than what they took," store owner Aysar Abushanab said.

Abushanab said he feels helpless as this is the third time his shopper has been burglarized.

Surveillance video shows a group of people attach a chain to the back of a black pickup truck and connect it to the store's security gate. The driver of the truck then accelerates and rips the doors off the building.

READ MORE | Burglars use chains to pull doors off of at least 20 South Side businesses, Chicago police warn

Once they gained access to the store, surveillance video shows the criminals take an ATM. They place the ATM in the back of the truck and drive off in a matter of minutes.

Abushanab said the ATM is owned by a third party company, but he is responsible for the money inside.

"They must know all the ATMs are getting refilled...and what else can we do to protect ourselves?" Abushanab said. "Look at the gates... a whole bar of gates and two doors."

Police said in a community alert Sunday that hooded suspects are likely using stolen vehicles in at least 20 other similar break-ins on the South Side.

Another similar crime was caught on camera earlier this month at a convenience store near South Indiana and East 75th street.

A video shows a similar black pickup truck being used to ram the shop when it was closed, with one offender using a chain to grab the ATM. After unsuccessful attempts of dragging it away, the offenders appeared to give up but still came away with merchandise while leaving behind substantial damage.

"I think it's messed up," said Ali Abdullah with Big Sam's convenience store. "We need more security... we need help from the police or something."

It was more of the same for another shop just down the block, near East 75th and Vernon Avenue, as offenders came by in another pick up truck. Thousands of dollars taken from an ATM there after the offenders used those chains to break in again.

The owners of the convenience stores said these burglaries will continue to hurt the entire community if police can't respond quicker.

"More quick response... if they came in as soon as the alarm went off... within five to 10 minutes... it could've prevented it, because it took them about 10 minutes to break in," Abushanab said.

So the clean up begins yet again for Abushanab's quick mart. He said he's looking into any other possible option to prevent the burglaries.

No one is in custody for the burglaries. Chicago police are investigating.

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