In Chicago, many “smash and grab” robberies have been occurring since the summer of 2014, continuing into the new year of 2015. By September 23, five high-end retail stores were already hit, all located in the North side of Chicago.

  “The fact that we have been able to recover some forensic evidence at our scenes leads us to believe this is not some professional high-end, movie-quality crew,” said Sgt. Edward Wodnicki of the Area Central detective division.

  As of now, the “smash and grab” burglaries have totaled up to about 13 robberies hitting not only high-end stores but electronic stores and jewelry shops as well. Some of the stores include Neiman Marcus and Louis Vuitton in Northbrook, Best Buy, J-Bees, EZ Pawn, Chicago Premium outlets, and Cisco Nyc.

  These depression era-style burglaries look like something out of 1930s gangster movie, but they are currently plaguing Chicago’s upper-class neighborhoods. A car or van crashes into a storefront, masked criminals exit the vehicle and grab as many high-end products as they can–all usually under 90 seconds. They leave the crashed vehicle and then enter a getaway car.

 “Chicago police believe “an organized group of criminals” is responsible for those burglaries, where hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of merchandise was stolen by thieves who smashed in the glass entrances of businesses,” Wodnicki said.

  Despite security camera footage, Chicago and Chicago suburb police departments are still unable to make arrests, leaving high-end store owners in Chicagoland wondering when and where the next “smash and grab” will strike.