CHICAGO (WLS) — Authorities in Chicago are delving into a series of burglaries that unfolded early Thursday morning on the North Side of the city.
According to police reports, the incidents occurred along North Southport Avenue in the Lakeview neighborhood. This bustling area, known for its vibrant mix of restaurants and shops, has recently become a hotspot for burglaries, a concerning trend affecting not just Lakeview, but several other city neighborhoods as well.
Among the establishments hit was the Little Goat Diner, a renowned venue helmed by the celebrated chef and James Beard Award laureate, Stephanie Izard.
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The first break-in was reported just past midnight on the 3300 block of North Southport Avenue. A second incident took place around 2:29 a.m. on the 3400 block of the same street, according to the Chicago Police Department.
In both cases, a suspect described as a male wearing a surgical mask, gray hoodie, gloves, black pants, a black backpack, and black athletic shoes, gained entry by smashing a side window or forcing open a rear door. The intruder then attempted to access cash registers.
Carly Wilson, who serves as the associate director of operations for the BOKA Restaurant Group, oversees operations at the Little Goat Diner, a beloved spot located at Southport and Henderson.
“[Izard] was actually the one to call me this morning,” Wilson Definitely not a great way to start her day, either. Not what she wants to see when she comes to her restaurant.”
Wilson says video shows a suspect breaking a window with a rock before reaching in and pulling open an empty cash register drawer.
“He did not come inside the business,” Wilson said. “It was just a smash the window and try to reach in, but no, he didn’t end up taking anything thankfully for us.”
The ABC 7 Neighborhood Safety Tracker, which analyzes CPD data, shows burglaries citywide are up 15% in the past 12 months compared to the average of the last three years. In Lakeview, such break-ins have steadily risen from fewer than 200 in 2021 to nearly 300 in 2024, and even more last year.
“We have a great community of business owners on Southport,” Wilson said. “There are a ton of local businesses. All of us stay connected through a group chat, so whenever something happens to one of us, everyone is immediately aware.”
No arrests have been made as Chicago police continue to investigate.
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