At about 4 a.m. on Tuesday, a white‑vehicle‑bound group of men broke into storefronts from the 2400‑ and 2500‑blocks of North Clark Street in Lincoln Park, shattering glass doors and stealing cash registers. Police say the burglars fled eastbound after the spree.
Businesses hit
Thirteen businesses reported damage, including Sultan’s Market, Kala Modern Greek, CM Chicken, Moon Bowls, Aloha Eats, Molly’s Cupcakes, Epic Snack Shack, Doner 97, The Other Side Bar, Little Bit Cleaner, Top Cleaners, a UPS store and Great Clips. Workers initially estimated as many as 19 businesses may have been targeted.
Great Clips manager Mike Komar arrived at 7 a.m. to find the front window shattered and about $150 taken from the register. The shop had no surveillance cameras, but Komar plans to install one.
At The Other Side Bar, bartender Jenna Devincenzi said burglars used a cash register stolen from the chicken restaurant across the street to smash the bar’s window. The bar’s own register was empty, and while no cash was taken, the incident rattled staff.
Kala Modern Greek manager Maci Calvert described how burglars attempted to kick in a window seven times and struck it four more times before giving up. The restaurant’s newer, sturdier glass held, and Calvert said the break‑in did not make her feel less safe.
Economic impact
Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce vice president Robin Hammond warned that repair costs often far exceed any cash taken. Temporary boarding, glass replacement and lost sales can quickly erode the thin profit margins of small businesses, and insurance claims may raise premiums.
“It’s not like whoever’s doing these crimes is really getting that much,” Hammond said. “The big expense is having to make the repairs the day after, and then dealing with those disruptions to their business.”
The chamber is offering vandalism‑repair and security rebates through the Clark Street Special Service Area to help offset expenses, though the rebates will not cover the full burden.
Police and city response
Despite the recent spate of break‑ins across Chicago, reported burglaries in the 19th Police District are down 43 percent so far this year compared with the same period in 2025, according to Chicago Police Department data (245 complaints through the week ending Oct. 25 versus 429 last year).
Alderman Timmy Knudsen (43rd Ward) said police have placed the Clark Street corridor under special attention, deploying dedicated officers for targeted burglary missions and exploring additional patrols and public‑safety cameras where coverage gaps exist. He also pledged to work with the chamber and the Special Service Area on security practices.
Knudsen urged residents to support the affected businesses, noting that every purchase helps keep these neighborhood staples afloat.
Wider context
The Clark Street break‑ins follow similar sprees that hit small businesses in Portage Park, Avondale, Logan Square, Wicker Park and other Chicago neighborhoods earlier this month. Mayor Brandon Johnson has acknowledged the toll on small businesses and said the city is developing a strategy to reduce robberies, though details remain pending.
Area Three detectives continue to investigate. Anyone with information or surveillance footage can contact detectives at 312‑744‑8263 or submit a tip at chicagopolice.org/submit-a-tip.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
