Burglars smash into 2 Des Plaines businesses

Burglars smashed their way into adjacent Des Plaines businesses this week, making off with cash and merchandise, police said Friday.

The break-ins occurred early Thursday at Chicago Gift & Vape, 1451 Lee St., and Little Caesars, 1455 Lee St. The stores are in Oaklee Plaza.

Officers responding to a 2:43 a.m. burglary alarm found the front glass doors of both businesses shattered. They searched inside and didn’t find anyone, according to a news release.

Officers discovered merchandise missing at Chicago Gift & Vape and the register there had been left open, the news release said. At Little Caesars, rolls of coins had been left on the floor behind the counter.

Police subsequently reviewed security footage from Chicago Gift & Vape and learned five burglars had pulled up in a dark sedan and then threw rocks at the doors to get inside. The thieves brought the rocks with them, a police spokesperson said.

The break-ins occurred simultaneously and only took minutes, police said.

More than $200 and about $2,000 worth of cigars, vaping equipment and other merchandise were taken out of Chicago Gift and Vape, police said. Police weren’t immediately sure what was stolen at Little Caesars.

Descriptions of the thieves weren’t available Friday.

Anyone with information about the burglaries can call police at (847) 391-5400.