Burglars use stolen vehicles and chains to break into doors of South Side Chicago stores

CHICAGO (CBS) — A gang of burglars has been active on the south side of town all month, using stolen vehicles to rip open front doors and sometimes even destroy parts of the store buildings.

Police believe four to eight thieves were involved in the series, and a video from a store in Roseland is reminiscent of the video game Grand Theft Auto.

Last Friday at nearly 4 a.m., crooks were seen driving a suspected stolen pickup truck to the Express Food Mart at 11058 S. Wentworth Ave. They got out, attached a chain to the door and went to work.

“Bad things happen at night,” said Eugene Roy, retired Chicago Police Chief. “Criminals like to work at night because they are under the cover of darkness. And there is less police presence.”

After several attempts, the thieves ripped open the steel roller door. Roy said the crooks knew what they were doing.

“These people are professionals at what they do,” he said, “and they’ve got the big picture. They’ve worked on it. They know what the business looks like.”

About seconds after the thieves drove off, the police arrived with blue lights and sirens blaring. But it was too late.

26 hours later, at 5 a.m. on Saturday, the thieves were back at the same place.

“Sometimes crooks get greedy and want the last thing, and when it comes along and the opportunity looks good, a lot of these are crimes of opportunity,” Roy said. “Some of these are scouted out well in advance. Some are crimes of opportunity.”

Once inside, the thieves discovered that the ATM was empty and they could not take anything.

Ten days earlier, The thieves raid Fresh Mart Foodsat 83rd Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Chatham.

The same crooks committed the same crime – this time in a stolen Jeep.

“It’s a movie,” said Durid, manager of Fresh Mart Foods. “It’s shocking to see it.”

This time they stole the ATM and the cash register – and, according to the owner, almost $5,000. The crooks then parked the stolen Jeep nearby.

“Why? What’s really going on here? Where are your parents? You know, where are your parents?” asked Vickie Williams, the owner of the stolen Jeep in the Fresh Mart Foods incident. “Why do you do this to people?”

While investigators work to catch the scammers, Roy says companies need to beef up their security.

“Install a burglar alarm system that is monitored 24 hours a day,” he advised.

In the event of data theft, the police advise companies to strengthen security measures, empty their cash registers and repair any damage immediately.

Below is the full list of incidents, all of which involved the use of a chain and a stolen vehicle to force the door open.

• Friday, August 2, 3:55 a.m., 10600 block of South Torrence Avenue, South Deering.
• Tuesday, August 6, 4:30 a.m., 1900 block of East 95th Street, South Deering.
• Tuesday, August 6, 5:30 a.m., 12200 block of South Halsted Street, West Pullman.
• Tuesday, August 6, 6:04 a.m., 100 block of East 75th Street, Park Manor.
• Friday, August 9, 2:44 a.m., 1800 block of East 87th Street, Avalon Park.
• Friday, August 9, 5:50 a.m., 11600 block of South Halsted Street, West Pullman.
• Friday, August 9, 6:35 a.m., 12200 block of South Michigan Avenue, West Pullman.
• Saturday, August 10, 5 a.m., 800 block of East 87th Street, Chatham.
• 5:20 a.m., Wednesday, August 14, 400 block of East 83rd Street, Chatham.
• Friday, August 16, 6:14 a.m., 200 block of West 119th Street, West Pullman.
• 5:57 a.m., Saturday, August 17, 1800 block of West 87th Street, Auburn Gresham.
• 4:47 a.m., Wednesday, August 21, 1800 block of East 87th Street, Avalon Park.
• 5:37 a.m., Wednesday, August 21, 800 block of West 119th Street, West Pullman.
• 4 a.m., Thursday, August 22, 8400 block of South Vincennes Avenue, Auburn Gresham.
• 4:45 a.m., Thursday, August 22, 1100 block of West 95th Street, Brainerd.
• 2:40 a.m., Saturday, August 24, 300 block of East 103rd Street, Roseland.
• 4:13 a.m., Saturday, August 24, 1100 block of West 111th Street, Morgan Park.
• 5:53 a.m., Saturday, August 24, 11000 block of South Wentworth Avenue, Roseland.
• 5:55 a.m., Saturday, August 24, 300 block of West 119th Street, West Pullman.
• 5:52 a.m., Sunday, August 25, 400 block of East 87th Street, Chatham.

The thieves stole ATMs, tobacco products and various items for sale, police said. They were all seen wearing dark clothing – including hoodies and masks.

Anyone with information should call the Calumet Criminal Investigation Division at 312-747-8273.