Masked burglars steal ATMs from taverns in Lincoln Park, Portage Park

A series of coordinated overnight burglaries has left two Chicago taverns without their ATM machines. Masked suspects targeted establishments in the Lincoln Park and Portage Park neighborhoods, executing quick and disruptive break-ins.

According to police reports, the break-ins occurred within hours of each other. In both cases, the burglars forced their way through the front entrances of the closed businesses. Once inside, they focused directly on the free-standing automated teller machines (ATMs). The suspects managed to detach the heavy machines, load them into a getaway vehicle, and flee before officers arrived on the scene.

The owners of the taverns reported significant property damage to their doors and entryways, in addition to the loss of the ATMs and the cash contained within them. Detectives are reviewing surveillance videos from both locations to determine if the same crew is responsible for both incidents. No arrests have been made, and business owners in both neighborhoods are being advised to secure their properties and consider bolting down their cash machines.