Chicago police warn of jewelry burglaries and charity-themed thefts

Chicago authorities have issued warnings regarding two distinct patterns of criminal activity targeting businesses and diners.

In a series of jewelry store burglaries, offenders have targeted businesses in the Albany Park, Rogers Park, West Ridge, and Avondale neighborhoods. Over a four-day period, groups of three or four individuals wearing black clothing and ski masks used vehicles to smash front windows and steal jewelry before fleeing in a separate vehicle.

Separately, police are investigating a string of thefts in the Loop, West Loop, and Near South Side areas. In these incidents, individuals posing as charity fundraisers approached diners in restaurants and coffee shops. The suspects reportedly placed flyers or newspapers over wallets, purses, or cellphones while engaging victims in conversation, then slipped the items away. In some cases, stolen credit cards were used at nearby department stores shortly after the thefts.