Chicago Police Issue Alert After Burglar Climbs Through Air Ducts of East Garfield Park Businesses

CHICAGO, IL — Chicago police have issued a community alert warning business owners in the East Garfield Park neighborhood to secure their properties after an agile burglar managed to break into two local establishments by crawling through their ventilation ducts.

According to the Chicago Police Department's Area Four Detectives, the unique break-ins took place during the early morning hours of June 16, 2025. In both instances, the suspect gained access to the roofs of the commercial buildings, dismantled the external exhaust covers, and squeezed through the narrow air ducts to bypass security doors and alarm sensors.

Targeting Cash Registers and Safes

Once inside the businesses, the burglar targeted cash registers, safes, and portable electronics. In one incident, the suspect disabled a portion of the security system from the inside before fleeing through a rear emergency exit. The business owners discovered the burglaries when they arrived to open their shops in the morning, noting ceiling tiles and ventilation debris scattered across the floor.

CPD has released descriptions of the suspect, who was captured on partial security footage wearing a dark jumpsuit, gloves, and a face covering. Detectives are advising local merchants, particularly those with rooftop access points, to inspect and reinforce their HVAC vents, install security grates inside the ductwork, and ensure motion sensors cover all areas of their interior spaces. Anyone with information or surveillance footage from the area is urged to contact police.