Alert issued after 5 North Side stores burglarized by smashing front glass

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago police have put out a warning after five North Side businesses were burglarized in the last month by having their front doors smashed by vehicles.

The incidents have all occurred during early morning hours while stores are closed.

In the most recent incident, officers responded to a burglary alarm going off just before 5:15 a.m. Monday in the 1600-block of North Wells Street. They found evidence of a break-in at the Luxury Garage Sale store and shattered glass on the sidewalk.

Another business was burglarized in River North in the 300 block of North Clark St. at 7:16 a.m. Saturday, and a third in Old Town at 6:30 a.m. Friday in the 1800 block of North Clybourn Ave.

The high-end Moncler store in the 0-100 block of East Oak Street in the Gold Coast was burglarized September 15. Police say thieves rammed a car into the store and stole several racks of expensive coats.

The first smash-and-grab took place on the Magnificent Mile in late August. Burglars smashed the front of the Best Buy store at the John Hancock Building in the 800-block of North Michigan and stole phones around 4:30 a.m. on August 21.

Vehicles used in the burglaries include a mid-1990s brown/gold possible Cadillac, maroon Pontiac minivan, a red minivan, and other vehicles.

Police in Chicago say they are working with Oak Brook police on a possible connection to the burglary at the Louis Vuitton store in the western suburb. Police say they do not believe all the same offenders are involved in all of the incidents.

Police say they are having a hard time identifying the burglars due to poor video quality and believe those responsible scouted police patrol patterns in the area prior to the burglaries.