Next News Network

Chicago’s prime shopping district has been hit with a disturbing trend of high-end store robberies. In broad daylight on Sunday, a group of men wearing full-face masks and gloves ransacked the Prada store, while brandishing guns and terrorizing shoppers. The brazen thieves made off with thousands of dollars worth of merchandise in a stolen blue Camry, which they abandoned shortly after. Police are still searching for the culprits, who are adding to the already alarming 28% vacancy rate on the Magnificent Mile.

The impact of these types of crimes is far more extensive than one might think. Retail experts have been tracking the rise in vacancy rates on Chicago’s popular shopping strip as a direct result of these recurring incidents, and it’s a problem that threatens to impact everyone. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s office has been reviewing the troubling statistics, with cases of adult retail theft increasing. To date, 614 cases have been reviewed, with charges approved in 75% of them. Out of 347 cases prosecuted, only 244 resulted in convictions, causing alarm as only a 70% conviction rate was achieved.

The situation is just as worrisome with juvenile retail theft cases. Out of 99 cases reviewed, charges were approved in just 30 cases. Only seven cases have been disposed of so far, and one juvenile conviction was made, resulting in an adjudication of delinquency. The meager adjudication rate of just 14% emphasizes the urgent need to take action and address the rising trend of high-end store robberies. Until such measures are taken, Chicagoans will continue to be exposed to a criminal element that is wreaking havoc on the city’s prestigious shopping district. The time for action is now.