By Lorraine Swanson, Patch
Published Jan. 9, 2023
Burglars broke into a Palos Hills, IL, auto body shop on Dec. 30, looking for key fobs and stealing a car that was later recovered, police reports said.
The break-in happened at Caliber Collision, 7727 112th Place, Palos Hills. Police said the burglars left behind extensive damage in an apparent search for keyless entry and starter devices. The business’s security video showed a person leaving the auto body shop and then attempting to steal several vehicles.
According to the report, the burglars managed to steal a Nissan, which officers found wrecked nearby. Police believe the burglars circled back Jan. 4, but by then employees at Caliber Collision had hidden all the key fobs. While no cars were stolen, the burglars reportedly walked off with an envelope containing $400 in cash.
A similar burglary also took place the same morning as the Palos Hills incident in Orland Park. Police responded to a security alarm around 6:19 a.m. Dec. 30 at Gerber Collision and Glass, 13433 Southwest Highway, Orland Park. The burglars had broken the glass door and appeared to have rummaged through a desk looking for key fobs, Orland Park police said.
Surveillance video showed a group of people running through the garage’s wash bay area. A few entered a BMW and a Hyundai, but no vehicles appeared to have been taken. Orland Park police said the people caught on security cameras appeared to be wearing white gloves.
Early Jan. 5, burglars broke into a North Side car dealership, Chicago police said. Officers responding to an alarm at Leader Auto in the city’s River North neighborhood. The burglars shattered a window and left many key fobs on the ground, news reports said. It is not known if any vehicles were taken.
South suburban police departments have reported an increase in car thefts and car part thefts over the past year.
