Chicago police are investigating after burglars broke into a gas station in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood using a chain tied to a pickup truck before stealing an ATM.
According to authorities, the brazen break-in occurred around 2 a.m. Thursday, when a group of at least four men drove into the parking lot of a Citgo gas station at 7600 S. South Chicago Avenue in a black pickup truck, first using a tool to open the first set doors before using a chain tied to the truck to loosen the iron set of gates.
Once inside, surveillance video shows the men ripping an ATM out of the floor before loading it into the pickup truck and fleeing the scene southbound on S. South Chicago Ave., all in less than four minutes.
“It’s costing us more, and more, and more and more,” manager Rodney Walker said.
He said his business likely has more than $10,000 between the ATM and its contents, the broken doors and the broken frame.
It’s not the first time it’s happened either.
“This door here is a metal door, this is the very first time they broke into the building,” Walker said. — They came in with a crowbar and everything, opened it up, they broke in and took the ATM.
Walker said they broke in through the roof another time.
“It’s just terrible. It’s terrible,” he said. “There doesn’t seem to be anything we can do about it.”
He said they have already made changes to the alarm system, upgraded and added cameras. But with the group still at large, they are at a loss.
“We don’t know what to do. It’s happening everywhere, not just here. It’s everywhere and it’s a shame,” Walker said. “The reason they commit these crimes is because they know that if they get caught and go to jail, they’ll get out right away.”
According to police radio calls, officers were first dispatched while the burglars were still inside the store, although the suspects had fled the scene by the time police arrived.
According to the authorities, the incident is under investigation and no one is in custody.