Thieves Steal Cash Machine From Skokie Bar In Front Of Patrons: Police

SKOKIE, IL — A pair of thieves brazenly stole a cash machine from a Skokie bar in full view of patrons and staff earlier this month, police said.

No arrests have been made in connection with the theft.

Four officers were dispatched to the Bar Louie inside the Holiday Inn at 5300 Touhy Ave. shortly after 6 p.m. on April 15 for a report that someone had just stolen an ATM, although the caller was unable to provide a description of the thieves, according to Skokie police.

Hotel security allowed police to review security footage, which showed the thieves had arrived in a black Ford Explorer at about 5:40 p.m., according to a redacted copy of a police report.

Security video shows two figures get out of the SUV before one gets a metal dolly from its trunk and both walk into the Bar Louie, Officer Raymond Duncker reported.

They walk over to a slot machine cash reward dispenser and the suspect who wheeled in the dolly attempts to load it, the officer reported, citing the security video. At first, they had trouble.

"Both offenders then forcefully pull the machine back and place it on the dolly," Duncker said. At least one witness followed the men into the parking lot, where they loaded the machine into the SUV and drove away in an unknown direction.

A bar patron who witnessed the theft told officers the machine made a loud noise while it was being removed, according to the report.

When the patron looked over at the thieves, the one with the dolly reportedly said something like, "Don't worry, we're just working on it."

No description of the thieves is included in the unredacted portions of the police report, which was obtained via a public records request, and images of their SUV originally attached to the report have yet to be released. A Skokie police spokesperson said the getaway car is part of a Chicago Police Department investigation on another case.