🚨🧰 CHICAGO WORKERS, CHECK YOUR VANS! THIEVES ARE BREAKING INTO CONTRACTOR VEHICLES AND STEALING THE TOOLS PEOPLE NEED TO MAKE A LIVING

CHICAGO — Now THIS would make me mad.

Chicago police are warning contractors, construction workers and tradespeople after 14 work vehicles were burglarized this month across the Loop, West Loop and Near South Side. The reported break-ins stretch from September 4 through September 21, with the latest reported incident occurring Monday morning in the 400 block of South Franklin Street.

And these thieves aren't just digging through somebody's center console looking for loose change.

They're targeting the TOOLS.

Police say groups of two to four men have been breaking into locked cargo vans and other work vehicles parked on city streets, in paid parking lots and even inside garages, then stealing construction and contractor equipment.

Baby, stealing somebody's tools is a different level of dirty.

That's not just property.

THAT'S HOW SOMEBODY EATS.

😳 14 INCIDENTS IN 17 DAYS

The burglaries have been concentrated downtown and nearby, with incidents reported on Dearborn, Wacker, Franklin, Wabash, Jefferson, Randolph, Harrison, Prairie and Monroe. Several occurred early in the morning, but others happened around 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and even 10:40 a.m. 

So don't assume this is strictly a 3-a.m.-while-everybody-is-sleeping situation.

One of the incidents happened in the 1500 block of South Prairie Avenue on the Near South Side at approximately 10:40 a.m. September 17. Another occurred in the 500 block of West Randolph Street at about 10:30 a.m. that same day. 

CHIIILE.

10:40 IN THE MORNING?!

The sun is up. Coffee shops are open. Folks are answering emails.

And somebody is allegedly shopping in a contractor's van like it's Home Depot.

🛠️ THOSE TOOLS CAN COST THOUSANDS

Anybody who works in construction, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, carpentry or another trade knows exactly why this matters.

Professional tools aren't cheap.

A van can contain thousands of dollars worth of equipment accumulated over YEARS. Take that equipment and the worker doesn't just lose property. They may lose the ability to complete that day's jobs and earn that day's money.

That's why this particular crime gets under my skin.

You didn't just steal a drill.

You may have stolen somebody's paycheck.

🚨 POLICE ISSUE WARNING TO WORKERS

Authorities are urging contractors to be especially careful about leaving expensive equipment inside vehicles. Among the recommendations being reported are parking in visible, well-lit areas, securing high-value equipment, marking tools so they're harder to resell and using additional anti-theft protection when possible.

Police currently have only a general description of the suspects, described as males approximately 17 to 25 years old, reportedly wearing black hoodies and black pants.

No arrests were reported in Tuesday's alert.

Anyone with information can contact Area Three detectives at 312-744-8263. CPD's reference number for the pattern is P26-3-032.

🎙️ LADY RED SAYS...

Chicago, lock it, alarm it, track it, mark it and if you can avoid leaving expensive equipment inside overnight, TAKE THAT STUFF OUT.

Because apparently we've got folks walking around downtown saying:

“I don't know how to install a water heater, but I DO know how to steal the tools.” 😒

And that's some raggedy mess.

These are people's businesses.

Some of these contractors are independent workers who bought those tools one paycheck at a time. They don't have a giant corporation replacing everything tomorrow morning.

So if you're working downtown and your van is basically your rolling toolbox, PAY ATTENTION.

Because 14 reported burglaries in 17 days isn't one random broken window.

That's a pattern.

And somebody needs to break that pattern before another working person walks outside ready to start their day...

and discovers somebody else already clocked in on THEIR equipment. 😡🧰

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