22-Mar-20 – Chicago police are investigating the burglaries of at least three North Side businesses early Sunday, as city officials encourage business owners to take special precautions during the statewide COVID-19 shelter order.

Around 12:30 a.m., police responded to a burglary at STK Steakhouse, 9 West Kinzie Street in River North. The offenders entered through the restaurant’s loading dock and hauled off an undetermined amount of liquor, according to CPD.

Police believe the heist may be an inside job. The burglars knew exactly where to go once they were inside, they moved all of the security cameras to new angles by hand, and they knew where to find the liquor storage room key, according to a source familiar with the crime.

At 2:30 a.m., a passerby noticed the glass front door shattered and an alarm sounding at Miska’s Liquors, 2353 North Clark Street in Lincoln Park. Police determined the break-in took place more than two hours earlier, at around 12:05 a.m., according to a CPD news release. Surveillance video shows four or five people wearing dark clothing entering the store and taking liquor, cigars, and cash from the register, police said. The offenders then fled north on Clark Street, possibly in a dark-colored sedan.

And around 8:00 a.m., police found the front glass door broken at The Red Lion Lincoln Square, 4749 North Rockwell Street. About $200 in cash was taken.

Businesses board up, time off for police canceled

Some Chicago businesses this week began boarding up their windows and doors in anticipation of long-term closures during the COVID-19 outbreak.

(Left) Windows covered with plywood at Smith & Wollensky in River North on March 18. Photo by Lira Luis. (Click on image to view larger version.)

CPD canceled all officers’ scheduled days off this weekend. The extra manpower is being directed toward “special attention” patrols of retail corridors, thoroughfares, and other potential hotspots, according to a memo from the department’s Chief of Operations.

On Thursday, 44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney advised businesses in his ward to secure their facilities after a burglary crew broke into three storefronts in the Lake View area to steal ATMs earlier in the day.

“After discussing these incidents, police are recommending businesses that are not open during this time secure valuables such as liquor, ATMs, cash registers, and other items that can be seen from the windows,” said Tunney (right). Tunney also advised business owners to make sure their surveillance cameras are operating correctly, that all doors and windows are locked, and alarms are activated.