Police End Pursuit on Lake Shore Drive During Old Town Break-Ins
Ald. Brian Hopkins criticized the department's no-pursuit policy after three suspects fled from a string of burglaries on Wells Street.
By Leila Mansour ·
Business owners in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood face millions of dollars in repairs after a coordinated break-in spree occurred early Thursday morning. Police confirmed that more than 10 establishments along the Wells Street commercial corridor were targeted in the incident.
The sequence of events began shortly before 4 a.m. when three men exited a white Honda SUV. They moved through the area, breaking into storefronts and damaging property. Chicago police received six reports related to the activity. Investigators noted that thieves took cash registers from some of the locations.
Officers arrived at the scene and began following the suspects. The chase moved onto Lake Shore Drive, where departmental rules required the patrol car to stop. The no-pursuit policy halted the chase, allowing the three men to escape the area. No arrests have been announced as of the latest update.
Ald. Brian Hopkins, who serves the 2nd Ward, described the suspects as young teenagers belonging to active crews. He stated that the group feels emboldened because they know officers cannot chase them on certain routes. Hopkins called the decision to stand down unconscionable given that the offenders were in sight.
"These are young teenagers that are doing this," Hopkins said. "The one thing that we know they’re aware of is the policy that we can’t pursue them, so they think their chances of getting caught are zero." He added that the damage is measured in millions of dollars.
Hopkins is asking the city to invest in technology such as drones and GPS tracking systems. These tools would allow officers to follow suspects without engaging in high-speed pursuits that pose risks to the public. He plans to coordinate with Chicago police and Crime Stoppers to bring additional resources to the corridor. Police have also committed to increasing overnight patrols in the neighborhood.
Residents are asked to contact Area Three detectives if they have information or surveillance video from the early morning hours. Business owners in the area have begun installing new cameras and locking up earlier as a precaution.
