ROGERS PARK — Police arrested three people in connection with at least 12 recent robberies and burglaries in Rogers Park and West Ridge, including a man who bragged, "There's no place I can't get into," police said.
Rogers Park District Sgt. Shawn Sisk, at a community safety meeting Tuesday night, said that man was responsible for at least six commercial burglaries along Clark Street.
Another person was arrested for two robberies near Ravenswood and Ridge avenues, and one more was taken into custody for at least four burglaries in West Ridge.
In January, Chicago Police sent out several warnings to both businesses and residents as both groups were being targeted for break-ins and muggings — both armed and unarmed.
When asked why it appeared there had been a spike in burglaries and robberies in the area recently, Sisk said it's not uncommon for one person to be responsible for a large number of crimes in a certain area.
Sisk said the opportunity for those types of crimes increase when residents are on their phones and preoccupied, or when businesses, who might lack the proper knowledge on how to best protect their stores, don't take strong enough security precautions.
Crooks who commit burglaries and robberies, such as the man responsible for six business break-ins on Clark Street, tend to keep going until they're stopped, Sisk said.
"He told me, 'There's no place I can't get into,' " Sisk said.
By staying alert, staying off phones and keeping properties secure, you become a less attractive target to potential burglars or robbers, Sisk said.
He also suggested residents and businesses participate in the district's newly formed Burglary Assessment Teams.
During a walkthrough, Sisk will talk property owners through the outside of their buildings, giving individualized advice and general assessments on areas where the building might be vulnerable or attractive to burglars.
By physically pointing out and showing weak areas in a property's security, including loose doors or easily removable windows, the meetings resonate with residents and business owners, Sisk said.
When properties leave themselves, perhaps unbeknownst to them, as open targets for crime, criminals usually keep going back to the same spots, Sisk said.
One man who was released from jail in April was arrested again in October for committing between 30-40 commercial burglaries himself, Sisk said.
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