Burglars nab ATMs overnight in South Loop and Irving Park, continuing trend of thefts

Two businesses had their ATMs stolen early Wednesday in the South Loop and Irving Park neighborhoods, continuing a trend ATM burglaries in the Chicago area.

A person broke a window about 2:50 a.m. and stole an ATM in the 3700 block of North Kedzie Avenue, Chicago police said. Witnesses said they saw a person drive away in a white Lexus SUV.

About 4:25 a.m., someone broke a business’ front glass door and stole an ATM in the 1600 block of South Michigan Avenue, police said. It’s unclear if the thefts were connected.

Police have responded to several other ATM thefts this year.

On Feb. 3, someone stole an ATM from a store in West Pullman by tying it with a chain to a pickup truck. On Feb. 4, a group of several men stole ATMs in the Ashburn and Chicago Lawn neighborhoods.

On Feb. 9, police found two ATMs had been tampered with overnight on the Southwest Side. On Feb. 24, four males entered a liquor store in Logan Square and stole and ATM and other items.

Riverside Police Chief Tom Weitzel has said that burglary crews sometimes specifically target ATMs that aren’t on bank property so they can avoid possible federal charges.