Masked suspects wearing all black burglarized multiple businesses in Waukegan early Sunday morning, including one where police arrived as the suspects were fleeing the scene.
Los Compadres de Waukegan, located at 1614 Washington Street in Waukegan, was burglarized around 4:15 a.m. Sunday.
Multiple surveillance cameras from inside and outside of the business captured the incident.
A front camera captured two suspects wearing all black, including hoodies, masks and gloves, approaching the front doors.
One of the suspects threw what appeared to be a brick through the glass door, breaking it and allowing them to enter.
The two walked into the restaurant and proceeded to the cash register, where they ripped out the cash drawer and stole it.
A getaway driver remained in the suspect vehicle, a white sedan, which had been seen circling the business just before the break-in.
The suspects broke into Los Compadres de Waukegan and then got back into their getaway vehicle within just 40 seconds.
The white sedan, which dropped the suspects off on Dorchester Court, picked up the two suspects directly in front of the restaurant on Washington Street when they exited the business.
Surveillance video showed the white car, which had been stopped facing eastbound on Washington Street in the westbound lanes, turn quickly northbound onto Dorchester Court with the passenger door still open.
At the same time, a Waukegan Police Department squad car was seen traveling westbound down Washington Street at a high rate of speed.
The squad stopped quickly in front of Los Compadres de Waukegan and reversed, apparently seeing the white sedan fleeing. The officer stayed at the crime scene and did not pursue the vehicle.
Tony’s Bakery, which is located just west of Los Compadres de Waukegan at 2010 Washington Street, was also reportedly burglarized.
Master Sushi and Drive Thru, located at 2510 Grand Avenue in Waukegan, was also burglarized the same morning.
One of the front doors at Master Sushi was smashed and had to be boarded up but the business remains open. It is unclear if there were other businesses that were targeted around the same time too.
The incidents come less than a week after Juan’s Chuck Wagon, 1522 Grand Avenue in Waukegan, was also burglarized.
The owner said the suspects left empty-handed with no cash but forced entry through a door, causing damage, around 12:45 a.m. on September 21.
Two sedans were seen fleeing the scene after the burglary, which is also involved masked and gloved suspects wearing all black.
The owner said he believes the suspects are the same as from a prior burglary at Juan’s Chuck Wagon that happened in mid-April.