Masked Burglars Target Sprint Stores in Smash and Grabs Across the Chicago Suburbs

Authorities from at least nine communities across the Chicago suburbs are investigating a string of smash-and-grab burglaries that all occurred at Sprint stores in recent months. Police believe the crimes committed by masked burglars are likely all related, said Wheaton Police Department Lt. Bob Miller.

In Wheaton, the Sprint store was hit on Nov. 26. Two masked burglars broke a window at the store, located at 316 E. Geneva Road, at about 3:39 a.m. and got away with $12,000 worth of Apple iPads and iPhones, Miller said. It’s believed the same suspects tried to break into the entry door window at the same Sprint store at some point between Nov. 23 and 25 and were unsuccessful.

“Either they were not able to break the window or got spooked and ran away,” Miller said.

The Wheaton Police Department is working with eight other agencies across the Chicago area who are investigating similar smash-and-grab burglaries that occurred at Sprint stores in the past couple months, Miller said. Authorities believe the burglaries are all related.

The other burglaries occurred in Crystal Lake, Matteson, Ottawa, Schaumburg, Homewood, Berkeley, La Grange and Deerfield, Miller said. Miller said it’s unclear at this point how many burglars have been involved in all of the burglaries -- though typically one to two people are breaking into each location. He also said it’s unclear at this point if men or women are involved and a description of the criminals is unavailable because they always wear masks that completely cover their faces.

Wheaton Police are working with the eight other agencies in their investigation into the burglaries.

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