Thieves Target Unlocked Cars In River North, Gold Coast Parking Garages

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CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A string of late December vehicle thefts in the Loop would seem to be related but the circumstances around them vary greatly.

The vehicle thefts occurred in the evening hours on the following dates:

  • Dec. 23 in the 400 block of North Clark Street;
  • Dec. 23 in the 400 block of North Franklin Street;
  • Dec. 23 in the 100 block of West Illinois Street;
  • Dec. 27 in the 100 block of East Chicago Avenue;
  • Dec. 27 in the first block of West Delaware Place;
  • Dec. 29 in the first block of East Ohio Street;
  • Dec. 30 in the first block of East Chestnut Street and
  • Dec. 30 in the 400 block of North State Street.

A community alert issued by the Chicago Police Department states that in the last week of December, each of the eight vehicle theft cases involved one to three suspects entering a parking garage and checking for unlocked doors.

But according to a CPD news affairs representative Sally Bown, three of the thefts that happened on Dec. 23 were linked to missing restaurant valet keys.

One woman found out on Dec. 27 that her car had been stolen after someone called police about a car parked illegally in an accesible parking spot.  It is suspected that three juveniles had stolen the car earlier, left it there and then stole another vehicle nearby.

On Dec. 29, a woman had her locked car stolen from a business parking lot.

And on Dec. 30, a rental car was awaiting service and still had the keys in it when stolen. That same day a young man was arrested for criminal trespass after a garage attendant noticed individuals checking car doors.

Police are advising that you make sure car doors are locked and take the keys with you.

The suspects were described as a group of one to three males between 15 and 20 years old, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. 

Anyone with information is asked to call Area Central detectives at 312-747-8382.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire & Chicago Sun-Times 2019. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)