Three Chicago Businesses Burglarized in Old Town
Suspects targeted three separate storefronts along Wells Street early Tuesday morning.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Property Crime
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Three businesses in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood were burglarized early Tuesday morning. Suspects broke into the locations by smashing glass doors and windows, fleeing the scene in a blue car.
Why it matters
The string of burglaries targeted local commercial storefronts within a short timeframe, raising concerns about business security in the Old Town area. Police are currently working to identify the suspects involved in these property crimes.
Area Three detectives are actively investigating the three burglaries that occurred early Tuesday. No arrests have been made, and the investigation remains open while police track the suspects who fled in a blue car.
The players
Area Three Detectives
This division of the Chicago Police Department is responsible for investigating criminal activity within the assigned geographic zone.
The details
The string of break-ins began at 3:05 a.m. at Happy Camper, followed by Jeni's Ice Cream at 3:10 a.m. and Royale Dry Cleaners at 3:11 a.m. While nothing was stolen from Happy Camper, suspects managed to remove a cash register from Royale Dry Cleaners before escaping in a blue vehicle.
Timeline
3:05 a.m. Tuesday: Break-in at Happy Camper.
3:10 a.m. Tuesday: Break-in at Jeni's Ice Cream.
3:11 a.m. Tuesday: Break-in at Royale Dry Cleaners.
Legal Context
These burglaries follow a pattern set by the 2024 Chicago commercial burglary surge, where smash-and-grab tactics have become a recurring issue for retail owners. Law enforcement often tracks these incidents collectively to determine if specific groups are responsible for multiple strikes across different districts.
Local business owners in Old Town may need to enhance security measures, such as reinforced glass or alarm systems, to deter similar smash-and-grab attempts. Residents and nearby workers are encouraged to report any suspicious activity or sightings of a blue car to Area Three detectives.
The takeaway
Property owners should ensure their surveillance systems are active and store security measures are inspected following these incidents. Maintaining vigilance and reporting any unusual vehicle activity in commercial corridors helps police track suspects more effectively.
Further reading
Learn more about local trends at the Chicago Property Crime section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS News.
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