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Burglars target sneaker store in northwest Chicago


Burglars target sneaker store in northwest Chicago

PARK RIDGE, Ill. (CBS) – For the third time in less than a year, a Park Ridge business was broken into and burglarized.

This time, those responsible resorted to the crash-and-grab method: they smashed through the shop window with a stolen SUV.

At 4:07 a.m. Wednesday, Park Ridge Police were called to the HQ Chicago Sneaker and Streetwear shop at 137 N. Northwest Hwy. in Uptown Park Ridge.

The Jeep stopped in the middle of a store, where it was caught on video. Seconds later, a Dodge Durango pulled up and a group of thieves stormed in, stealing everything they could carry – mostly sneakers.

One of the burglars also looted the cash register.

The video showed the thieves running with their loot to the waiting Dodge – jumping over the gate they had just broken open to get back and forth.

A neighbor who had asked that his identity be kept secret was awakened by the attack and called 911.

“This morning we were awakened by a crashing and banging noise around 4 a.m.,” the neighbor said. “I came out onto my balcony and saw that an SUV had driven through a store across the street from us.”

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Delivered to CBS 2


The neighbor took photos showing the police response and towing of the stolen Jeep used in the crash-and-grab incident.

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Delivered to CBS 2


Police say the SUV was stolen before the break-in in Park Ridge.

“Park Ridge police were walking both ways toward this store on Northwest Highway, and the people who robbed this store took another side street here, Summit, and headed toward the highway,” the neighbor said.

The thieves fled in the Dodge they had arrived in and left the Jeep behind, police said.

Now HQ Chicago Sneaker and Streetwear has been barricaded for the third time. According to police, the store has been robbed twice since it opened in January of this year.

CBS News Chicago attempted to contact the owners of HQ Sneakers and Streetwear. They declined to comment for this article.

Police were still searching for those responsible late Wednesday. Anyone with information is asked to call Park Ridge police at 847-318-5256.

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