Thieves Smash Through Drywall to Burglarize Chicago Businesses, Police Issue Warning

A brazen new burglary tactic is hitting Chicago's South Side: thieves are breaking through drywall from adjacent properties to gain entry into businesses, making off with merchandise and prompting an urgent warning from Chicago police.

Three Businesses Hit in Less Than a Month

Chicago police issued a community alert Thursday after three businesses were burglarized using the same method — criminals breached shared walls by punching through drywall from a neighboring property rather than forcing entry through a door or window. The stolen goods included cellphones, clothing, and shoes.

All three incidents occurred in the early morning hours and targeted South Side neighborhoods. According to police, the break-ins happened at the following locations and times:

• Around midnight on June 2 on the 300 block of East 103rd Street in Roseland
• Around 2 a.m. on June 22 on the 2300 block of West 95th Street in Beverly
• Around 2:30 a.m. on June 23 on the 10300 block of South Halsted Street in Washington Heights

Police have not released a description of the suspects involved in any of the incidents.

Why This Tactic Is Particularly Concerning

The wall-breach method is a calculated workaround to standard commercial security measures. By entering through a shared interior wall rather than a locked door or alarmed entrance, burglars can bypass the most common deterrents — deadbolts, security bars, and door sensors — leaving businesses that share walls with vacant or less-secured spaces especially vulnerable.

The clustering of three incidents within a single month, all on the South Side, suggests a coordinated effort and raises concerns that additional businesses in the area could be targeted.

What Businesses and Residents Can Do

Police are urging anyone with information related to these burglaries to contact Chicago police at 312-747-8273 or to submit an anonymous tip online using reference number P26-2-011.

Business owners — particularly those in shared commercial buildings — may want to inspect interior walls for vulnerabilities, review security camera coverage to include blind spots near shared walls, and consider additional interior motion-sensor alarms as a precaution.

With no suspects identified and the pattern still active, South Side business owners would be wise to take stock of their security arrangements before another early-morning break-in adds to the growing tally.