Suburban Task Force Fights Gambling Machine Burglaries

Amid a surge of smash-and-grab burglaries targeting video gambling machines, suburban law enforcement agencies are collaborating to combat the crime. Over 50 detectives from police departments and sheriff’s offices across Cook, Lake, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, and Will counties recently formed a task force. This group aims to share intelligence and work together to locate and arrest the criminals involved.

According to Lake County sheriff’s Chief Christopher Covelli, the detectives are putting significant resources and time into these investigations. They are connecting cases, sharing information, and developing leads across different jurisdictions. Burglaries consistently involve thieves forcefully breaking into video gambling terminals, with almost daily incidents recorded in various suburbs.

Recently, burglars targeted a restaurant and a gambling café in Schaumburg, gas stations in Wheeling and Green Oaks, a bar in New Lenox, and a truck stop in Peotone. An employee of Frato’s Kitchen & Gaming in Schaumburg reported that their business was broken into and had to close for cleaning after significant damage.

The break-ins typically involve groups of six to 12 thieves, often using stolen vehicles. They employ tools such as sledgehammers and crowbars to enter the premises. Once inside, they smash open the gambling machines and steal the cash before quickly fleeing. Covelli noted these are organized crews, often linked to street gangs.

The task force includes local police and the Illinois attorney general’s office, with the Illinois Gaming Board as the lead agency due to the crimes involving gambling terminals. Covelli emphasized that ongoing collaboration is crucial to successfully resolving these cases.