Why suburban police are teaming up to fight video gambling smash-and-grabs
Suburban police across multiple counties have formed a task force to combat organized gangs targeting video gambling machines in businesses.Summary
Suburban law enforcement agencies in Cook, Lake, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, and Will counties in Illinois have formed a new task force to combat a surge in "smash-and-grab" burglaries targeting video gambling machines in businesses like restaurants, bars, and gas stations. Over 50 detectives recently met to share intelligence and coordinate investigations. Lake County Sheriff's Chief Christopher Covelli described the perpetrators as organized crews, possibly gang-related, who use stolen vehicles and tools like sledgehammers to break in, destroy the machines, and steal cash before fleeing. The crimes cause significant financial loss to businesses through lost revenue, damage, and increased security costs. The task force includes local police, the Illinois Attorney General's office, and is led by the Illinois Gaming Board.
(Source：Chicago Tribune)