Broken glass remained scattered along the street after the overnight break-ins, leaving several vehicles with smashed windows.
Police said the incidents appeared to happen one after another during the overnight hours. Investigators are looking for one or two people who were reportedly wearing black hoodies and traveling in a dark-colored vehicle. No arrests had been announced as of Wednesday night.
TJ Brister, who lives in the area, recorded video showing the damaged vehicles after the break-ins. He said the string of incidents was unusual enough to prompt him to warn others who park in the neighborhood.
“I wanted to show people not that it’s not safe but what’s been going on recently so they can think twice before parking on the street like that,” Brister said.
Several of the damaged vehicles were parked near Mend Atelier, a shoe and leather repair business on Aberdeen Street. Owner Jorge Mancilla said incidents like this can affect nearby businesses as well as residents.
“Anytime things like this happen, we feel them as well,” Mancilla said. “We want everyone in this community to feel safe and to be safe.”
Mancilla said most of the break-ins occurred in front of his business. He described the damage as frustrating for people who expect their vehicles to be secure while parked outside their homes or businesses.
The latest incidents come as police continue to investigate vehicle-related thefts in and around Chicago. City crime data is drawn from Chicago Police Department reports, although the city notes that recent records can be preliminary and may be revised as investigations continue.
A separate June warning from Chicago police involved a series of burglaries targeting work vans, including an incident in the Fulton Market District. Police in that investigation said suspects damaged vehicles and stole construction equipment.
For the Aberdeen Street incidents, police have not publicly identified a motive or said what specific items were taken from each vehicle. The investigation remains active.
Residents and visitors in the area are being urged to remain aware of their surroundings and avoid leaving valuables visible inside parked vehicles.
No arrests had been reported in connection with the Aberdeen Street break-ins as of Wednesday night.
