Chicago crime spree: Hammer-wielding robber breaks into Bucktown’s 5 Wicker Park in less than 3 hours

CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago police issued a warning about robbers using hammers to break windows and break into businesses, primarily in Wicker Park and Bucktown. A company in Pilsen was also targeted.

The push and snatch robberies all happened early Friday morning between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., according to CPD.

In both incidents, the suspects used hammers to break the front glass doors of the stores, gain entry and steal cash registers and cash drawers containing an unspecified amount of cash, police said. Police said he was driving a black Chevrolet Equinox.

Related: Snatching robbery caught on camera at NWside coffee shop

The robberies occurred at the following locations:

1900 block of South Loomis, 2:28 a.m.

2000 block of West Wabansia, 4:18 a.m.

2000 block of North Leavitt, 4:25 a.m.

2000 block of North Laughlin, 4:35 a.m.

2300 block of West Chicago Avenue, 4:52 a.m.

According to CPD, three to five men were involved in the break-in. They were wearing black ski masks, black hooded sweatshirts, and black pants.

read more: Man attacks pedestrian on northwest side, victim hits him with a hammer

Olivia’s Market was one of the businesses targeted by the thieves. Security video showed a group of four suspects entering through the front door, walking around the store and fleeing.

“They came through the glass and went straight to the register looking for cash,” manager Michael Bedra said. “Yes, that was their tactic.”

more coverage: Video showing robbers breaking into NW Side cafe.

Security video then showed a fifth suspect walking inside Olivia’s Market and joining the group, who had left behind a suitcase. Just as they were about to leave, their suitcases slammed open on the ground, revealing that they had fled with no cash, only business documents.

“We had to change our tactics in terms of how we approached to avoid theft,” Vedra said.

Police say this is a lesson learned after the group broke into the same store in October. Security video of the incident shows them stealing cash from the register and fleeing in a white Hyundai Elantra.

“It really makes you think about how desperate people are,” Bedra said.

Police have not said whether the same group is behind both robberies at Olivia’s Market, but so far no one has been taken into custody in all of these robberies.