It was not a quiet Tuesday morning in Chicago. Before most people had finished their first cup of coffee, a group of masked thieves had already robbed two gas stations, attempted to rip ATMs out of their foundations, led police on a high-speed chase, and, in a move that nobody had on their bingo card, carjacked a Cook County Sheriff’s vehicle in broad daylight.
The first hit came in just before 5 a.m. near 71st and Damen, where surveillance cameras caught masked offenders pulling up in an SUV and yanking an ATM clean out of a gas station. The footage, later shared by the station’s owner along with photos documenting the destruction left behind, shows the kind of brazen, coordinated operation that Chicago law enforcement has been tracking for months. This was not a smash-and-grab by amateurs.
Roughly two hours later, a second crew, or possibly the same one, pulled up to a Marathon gas station near 55th and South California in a black SUV with no license plates. This time, though, things did not go as smoothly. Officers were called while the thieves were still inside trying to pry open the ATM, and when police showed up, the offenders bolted. What followed was a chase that would involve Chicago Police, Cook County Sheriff’s deputies, and Illinois State Police all converging on the Dan Ryan Expressway.
Three of the four suspects crashed and were arrested near 31st and Michigan. But the fourth person did something that even seasoned officers probably needed a moment to process: he jumped into an unoccupied Cook County Sheriff’s vehicle sitting nearby and drove off. Eight miles down the road, spike strips put an end to that particular escape plan. A sheriff’s deputy was treated for minor injuries. All four suspects are now in custody.
How the ATM Theft Playbook Works
ATM thefts involving vehicles have become a persistent and expensive problem across Chicago and many other major cities. The method is straightforward in concept but requires coordination: a crew uses a stolen or untraceable vehicle, typically an SUV with no plates, to physically rip an ATM from its mounting using chains or straps. The entire operation can take under two minutes, which is why speed and distraction are critical to the offenders’ strategy.
In the second robbery attempt Tuesday, the clerk behind the counter was calling police while the suspects were still working on the machine. That real-time tip was likely what cut the crew’s window short and sent them running before they could finish the job. The police radio traffic that followed referenced the black Jeep SRT specifically and noted it had already been connected to multiple prior ATM thefts, suggesting this group, or at least this vehicle, had been on law enforcement’s radar before Tuesday.
Stealing a Squad Car: Bold, Reckless, and Still Not a Smart Move
Let’s dwell here for a second, because this deserves it. When three of the four suspects crashed and were taken into custody, the fourth person, rather than surrendering or attempting to flee on foot, climbed into a marked Cook County Sheriff’s vehicle and drove it approximately eight miles before being stopped. That is not a detail that shows up in most crime reports.
Whether this was desperation, poor judgment, or some combination of the two, it triggered a multi-agency response that included Illinois State Police, Cook County Sheriff’s deputies, and Chicago Police all pursuing the stolen patrol car down the Dan Ryan. Spike strips were deployed successfully, the vehicle was stopped just north of 79th Street, and the suspect was taken into custody. The deputy whose vehicle was taken was treated for minor injuries in the process.
What This Incident Reveals About a Bigger Problem
Chicago has been dealing with a sustained wave of ATM and gas station thefts carried out by organized crews, and Tuesday’s events highlight several things worth paying attention to. First, these operations are increasingly coordinated and repeat-offender driven. Police radio noted that the vehicle involved had been tied to multiple prior thefts, which raises questions about why it was still in circulation.
Second, real-time communication from witnesses inside targeted locations, like the clerk who called 911 while the theft was happening, can make a meaningful difference in how quickly law enforcement responds. In Tuesday’s second robbery, that call appears to have been a direct factor in disrupting the theft before it was completed.
Third, the sheer audacity of stealing a law enforcement vehicle mid-chase underscores how chaotic these situations can become once a pursuit begins. For residents and business owners, the practical takeaway is familiar: high-quality surveillance systems, reinforced ATM anchoring, and quick 911 communication remain among the most effective deterrents available.
As of Tuesday, police confirmed that four people are in custody but had not yet confirmed whether both robbery locations were connected to the same group. That investigation is ongoing.