At least seven abandoned buildings in the Austin neighborhood have been burglarized in recent weeks, prompting a community alert from police.
According to police, “essential fixtures” — such as copper pipe, tools and furnaces — were pilfered from buildings in:
-the 4900 block of West Kinzie some time between Aug. 6 and 17;
-the 4900 block of West Cortez on Aug. 15 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.;
-the 4900 block of West Hubbard some time between Aug 22 and 28;
-the 900 block of North Laramie some time between Aug. 15 and 28;
-the 4900 block of West Erie some time between Aug. 2 and 29;
-the 4900 block of West Ohio some time between Aug. 19 and Sept. 3;
-the 100 block of North Leamington on Sept. 7 between 8 a.m. and 11:53 a.m.
A description of the suspects was not provided, but a white van was seen leaving one of the burglaries, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at (312) 744-8263.