Amid a surge in smash-and-grab burglaries targeting video gambling machines, suburban law enforcement agencies are joining forces to tackle the issue. Recently, more than 50 detectives from police departments and sheriff’s offices across Cook, Lake, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, and Will counties gathered to establish a task force focused on sharing intelligence and coordinating efforts to apprehend the perpetrators.
According to Lake County Sheriff’s Chief Christopher Covelli, officers are dedicating substantial time and resources to these investigations. They are working across various jurisdictions to connect cases, exchange information, and develop leads. Burglaries involving smashed video gambling terminals have become a frequent occurrence in suburban areas.
Recently, a wave of these crimes hit several businesses, including a restaurant and gambling cafe in Schaumburg, gas stations in Wheeling and Green Oaks, a bar in New Lenox, and a truck stop in Peotone. Frato’s Kitchen & Gaming in Schaumburg was broken into early Tuesday morning, forcing it to shut down for two days of cleanup. Its gambling machines were destroyed, leading to lost revenue and security enhancement costs.
The burglars are typically part of organized groups of six to twelve people, often using stolen vehicles. They use sledgehammers, crowbars, and other tools to break into establishments, steal cash from gambling machines, and escape at high speeds. Covelli mentioned that these crews appear well-organized and possibly linked to street gangs. Besides local police, the task force includes the Illinois attorney general’s office and the Illinois Gaming Board, the lead agency due to the crimes involving gambling terminals.
Chief Covelli emphasized the importance of continued collaboration and investigative efforts in identifying the criminals and resolving these cases effectively.