Video from a Wicker Park electronics repair shop shows the moment a group of four individuals broke in early Friday morning and stole numerous items.
The group arrived around 3 a.m. in a black SUV, believed to be a Jeep Cherokee according to police.
One of the suspects broke the glass door and all four entered, video shows. At least eight surveillance cameras captured them breaking glass display cases, taking laptops, phones, iPads and a cash register.
“I turn on the cameras and I see about four guys going through the store, breaking stuff, stealing stuff,” said Sam, the owner of eRepair on North Avenue. “I’m angry. This is my livelihood.”
In two minutes, the thieves stole thousands of dollars worth of goods and left thousands more in damage. Sam noticed that they didn’t seem nervous. At one point, they can even be heard laughing on the video.
“They’ve done this before,” he said. “One of the guys was like, ‘Take this, do that.’ One of them looked like a little kid, 13 or 14. What’s he doing out there at 3 a.m.? It’s crazy.”
Sam hopes city leaders and the community will do more to prevent these crimes.
“Try to understand why, what’s happening, why these kids are out on the street at 3 a.m. doing this,” he said.
Just before the group fled in the SUV, a Chicago police car was seen on video turning the corner and approaching the getaway car. No one was in custody Saturday night.
An hour and a half later, a mile away, another attempted burglary broke out in Bucktown. Police radio reported that two men forced open an overhead door and began shooting. The victim had a concealed-carry permit and returned fire.
The incident happened near a plumbing business on Elston and Webber avenues.
Police have not said whether the burglaries were connected. No one was in custody Friday evening.
