Surveillance Photos Released After String Of Business Burglaries

CHICAGO (CBS)-- Police released surveillance photos after a string of burglaries at Chicago businesses.

In most of the incidents, police said the offender entered the business through roof vents or by breaking doors and windows.

Police said once inside, the offender demolished walls and pried open registers to steal cash.

Businesses burglarized include restaurants, convenience stores and storage facilities.

Burglary locations include:

• • 0-100 block of S. Cicero Ave. on March 18
• • 200 block of S. Cicero Ave. on March 2
• • 300 block of S. Laramie Ave. on March 19
• • 400 block of S. Laramie Ave. on March 3
• • 300 block of N. Laramie Ave. on March 17
• • 500 block of N. Laramie Ave. on March 5
• • 5100 block of W. Washington Blvd. between March 16-17 
• • 4800 block of W. Chicago Ave. on March 31
• • 4000 block of W. Grand Ave. on March 8
• • 4500 block of W. Grand Ave. on March 21
• • 4500 block of W. North Ave. on March 8
• • 6600 block of W. Diversey Ave. on March 19
• • 0-100 block of W. Madison Ave. on March 11
• • 500 block of W. Lake St. on March 14
• • 0-100 block of N. Dearborn St. on March 20
• • 0-100 block of N. Dearborn St. on March 22
• • 0-100 block W. Randolph St. on March 22

Do-Rite Donuts and Coffee on west Randolph in the Loop became the target of the serial burglar.

Taylor Ford, a Do-Rite Donuts employee, said someone smashed the glass to the building around 11 p.m. on March 22 and raided the register, breaking it in the process.

"Nobody was here when it happened," Ford said.

A security camera captured the break in.

"It was frustrating the first day in particular because the register was broken, so we had to deal with fishing the money out of here," Ford said.

CPD believes the offender is responsible for the other March burglaries.

"It doesn't surprise me, but if it's the same person doing all of this, I assume he's a mastermind to some degree to get away with breaking into all these places, you know, in the loop where it's busy," Ford said.

Police said the offender often wears a flannel sweatshirt with a knit hat and gloves.

Ford said the offender used a hammer to break open the Do-Rite Donuts register.

"As if it's not hard working in the Loop in a donut shop in the morning anyway," Ford said. "It's just another obstacle to overcome."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Area North Detectives at 312-744-8263.