Chicago police are investigating a possible connection between burglaries at multiple stores and a cash register that was tossed on the block where Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker lives.
In a story first reported by CWB Chicago, a group of burglars broke into a liquor store around 4:10 a.m. Thursday morning before burglarizing a market around 4:35 a.m. stealing cash, registers, liquor and tobacco products. They left the scene in a dark-colored four-door pickup truck. Less than 10 minutes later, police responded to a report that someone saw a group of men throw a cash register and other items into the street on the same block Gov. Pritzker lives in the Gold Coast neighborhood.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks during a news conference at South Elgin High School on March 31, 2021.
(Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune/TNS/ABACAPRESS.COM/iStock)
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At 4:47 a.m., a group of six men broke into a Burberry store on North Michigan Ave and stole merchandise.
A police spokesperson, according to Chicago Sun-Times, said the “incidents could not be specifically linked together at this time” but “detectives are still investigating.”
The Chicago Police Department recently announced it is hiring 200 additional homicide detectives as a 2021 crime surge resulted in the most homicides in the city in a quarter-century.
Chicago Police Superintendent Brown
(Chicago PD)
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Chicago capped off 2021 with 797 homicides, the most seen in the city since 1996. The homicides last year were 25 more than recorded in 2020. Other cities in the nation saw an increase in homicides last year, but Chicago ended the year with more than any other city.
Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the main enemy of the city is illegal guns and the city will also focus on cracking down on gangs.
“In too many neighborhoods, gangs are targeting young boys – young boys with promise, young boys with a whole history and opportunity in front of them,” Lightfoot said. “But they’re targeting them with false promises of wealth, an easy life, and a sense of purpose and belonging.”
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Lightfoot pushed to defund the police in 2020 by $80 million amid nationwide protests following the death of George Floyd. But as crimes raged in the city last year, she called on the federal government to send additional law enforcement resources to the city in December.
Through Dec. 26 last year, citywide thefts rose 21% year-to-date, with 12,789 reported compared to 10,567 in 2020, according to police statistics.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks during a Jan. 4 press conference.
(Facebook/Chicago Public Schools)
Last month, Lightfoot criticized business owners in areas like Michigan Avenue for not doing enough to protect their stores.
“Some of the retailers downtown in Michigan Avenue, I will tell you, I’m disappointed that they are not doing more to take safety and make it a priority,” Lightfoot said. “For example, we still have retailers that won’t institute plans like having security officers in their stores.”
The Chicago Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News
Fox News’ Emma Colton contributed to this report
