Thieves smash into jewelry store in Chicago’s west loop.
On Friday morning, a group of thieves targeted a jewelry store in the 800 block of North Michigan Avenue, in Chicago’s Magnificent Mile area. Around 11:43 a.m., three males entered the store and used a mallet to smash open display cases, stealing multiple wristwatches before fleeing the scene. The suspects are believed to be the same individuals involved in a similar incident at the same store last month, where they drove away in a gold Jeep Cherokee. All three suspects were described as being between 17 and 25 years old, standing between 5-foot-10 and 6 feet tall, and wearing Nike hoodies—one red, one gray, and one black. No arrests have been made, and no injuries were reported. (FOX 32 Chicago)
In a separate incident earlier this week, a security guard thwarted a smash-and-grab attempt at Marshall Pierce & Company, another jewelry store on North Michigan Avenue. Three male suspects entered the store and attempted to smash a watch case with a hammer. The security guard, who was reportedly armed, intervened and ordered the suspects to the ground. The suspects fled without taking any merchandise. They were described as slim Black males between the ages of 18 and 28, wearing ski masks. A white Infiniti sedan was believed to be their getaway vehicle. No arrests were made, and no injuries occurred. (FOX 32 Chicago)
These incidents are part of a broader trend of smash-and-grab burglaries in Chicago. In the West Loop, two stores on West Madison Street were targeted just minutes apart on July 13, 2024. Thieves broke the front glass doors of a clothing store and a cell phone shop before stealing items and fleeing the scene. (ABC7 Chicago)
In response to the increasing number of such crimes, city officials are considering installing bollards—short, embedded posts made of steel or concrete—to prevent vehicles from crashing into businesses. Aldermen Walter Burnett and Brian Hopkins have proposed this measure to protect retailers across the city, including the West Loop and Magnificent Mile areas. Each bollard is estimated to cost around $1,000, with installation costs ranging from $600 to $1,000 per unit. (Block Club Chicago)
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