A burglary crew targeted at least six businesses in and near Lake Bluff by smashing glass doors to get at cash registers, police said, on the same morning suspects broke into businesses in Waukegan.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 3 a.m. Sunday to several businesses in the Knollwood area of unincorporated Lake Bluff for reports of burglaries.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Chief Christopher Covelli said the businesses that were burglarized were in the 700 block of West Rockland Road, the 100 block of North Waukegan Road and the 200 block of Waukegan Road.
Covelli said the burglars broke the glass door at each business with a landscaping brick to get inside and then targeted the cash registers.
A fourth burglary was attempted at a business in the 700 block of Rockland Road but the thieves were unable to get inside, Covelli said.
Bratski’s, located at 715 Rockland Road, was reportedly targeted around 3 a.m. but an alarm scared the burglars off before they could get inside.
Surveillance video from Bratski’s shows a white four-door sedan pulling in behind the building just after 3 a.m. and taking off once the alarm lights activated.
Covelli said the vehicle involved in the burglaries was a white four-door sedan.
Photos shared by Shields Township show a sheriff’s office squad parked outside Luke’s of Lake Bluff, 203 North Waukegan Road, where the glass on the front door was smashed.
Photos shared by Shields Township also show a shattered glass door at Poke Bros, 703 Rockland Road in unincorporated Lake Bluff, and cash register drawers dumped in a parking lot.
Forest Greens Juice Bar, 123 Waukegan Road, was also burglarized, leaving broken glass from a smashed door scattered across the floor inside.
The Lake Bluff Police Department also responded Sunday to two possible commercial burglaries in the 900 block of Rockland Road, Lake Bluff Deputy Police Chief Erik Gehrke said.
Epic Burger, 955 Rockland Road in Lake Bluff, had the glass on one of its front doors smashed, photos shared by Shields Township show.
In all, at least six businesses in and near Lake Bluff were targeted early Sunday.
“The cases are still under investigation, but our detective is working with other nearby agencies who experienced similar crimes that morning,” Gehrke said.
Gehrke said no arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.
“The MO matches other burglaries that occurred in incorporated Lake Bluff and elsewhere in the county,” Covelli said.
Covelli said sheriff’s detectives are working with other area detectives to further the investigation.
Masked suspects burglarized Los Compadres de Waukegan, 1614 Washington Street in Waukegan, around 4:15 a.m. Sunday — a little over an hour after the burglaries in the Lake Bluff area.
Multiple surveillance cameras inside and outside the business captured the burglary.
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 went to the cash register, ripped out the cash drawer and stole it.
A getaway driver waited in a white sedan, which had been seen circling the business just before the break-in.
The suspects broke in and were back in the getaway vehicle within 40 seconds.
The white sedan, which had dropped the suspects off on Dorchester Court, picked them up directly in front of the restaurant on Washington Street and turned quickly northbound onto Dorchester Court with the passenger door still open, surveillance video showed.
A Waukegan Police Department squad car was seen traveling westbound on Washington Street at a high rate of speed at the same moment.
The squad stopped quickly in front of the restaurant and reversed after apparently seeing the white sedan flee but the officer stayed at the scene and did not pursue the vehicle.
Tony’s Bakery, 2010 Washington Street in Waukegan, was also reportedly burglarized.
Master Sushi and Drive Thru, 2510 Grand Avenue in Waukegan, was burglarized the same morning, leaving one of its front doors smashed and boarded up.
It was not immediately known whether investigators had connected the Waukegan burglaries to those in the Lake Bluff area.
The burglaries came less than a week after Juan’s Chuck Wagon, 1522 Grand Avenue in Waukegan, was burglarized around 12:45 a.m. on September 21.
The owner said the suspects forced their way in through a door and caused damage but left without any cash.
The suspects in that burglary were also masked, gloved and dressed in all black and two sedans were seen fleeing afterward.
The owner said he believes the suspects are the same ones who burglarized Juan’s Chuck Wagon in mid-April.
Maevery Public House, 20 East Scranton Avenue in Lake Bluff, and Scooter’s Hot Dogs, 721 Rockland Road in Lake Bluff, were also reportedly burglarized the week before Sunday’s break-ins.
Shields Township warned residents and business owners about the break-ins after the burglaries.
“Windows and doors have been broken as individuals appear to be targeting cash registers and looking for cash,” Shields Township said.
The township urged people to lock their car doors, keep valuables and cash out of sight, make sure homes and businesses are secured and stay aware of their surroundings.
“If you see suspicious activity, please do not confront anyone—contact law enforcement and report it,” Shields Township said.
No arrests have been announced in any of the burglaries as of Thursday.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Lake County Sheriff’s Office at 847-549-5200.