Police investigate string of burglaries affecting multiple businesses overnight

In the early hours of April 7, 2025, multiple businesses experienced break-ins in two separate incidents occurring in the United States. In Downers Grove, Illinois, around 20 businesses were burglarized between 3:40 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. The local police responded to an intrusion alarm at a commercial establishment on Finley Road, leading to the discovery of further burglaries throughout the retail corridors on Butterfield Road and Ogden Avenue. One affected business owner, Chandresh Patel, described the experience of the break-in at Corner Pantry, sharing that his security cameras captured the thieves smashing doors and stealing cash, e-cigarettes, and lottery tickets. Although he expressed his dissatisfaction with the incident, he also mentioned it being part of the business life. Similar scenes played out at other establishments, including a pizza shop and a Smoothie King, as police searched for the burglary suspects utilizing security video footage for leads. Interestingly, another group of businesses in Boyle Heights, California, suffered break-ins around the same timeframe. The Los Angeles Police Department received reports of smashed glass doors and windows at a strip mall around 5 a.m. The investigation revealed that these businesses, including a Little Caesars and a Wing Stop, were targeted, and although police have not made any arrests yet, they have begun gathering evidence from the scene. Both investigations emphasize the ongoing issues of property crime that businesses are facing across various regions, leaving owners concerned about the safety of their establishments.