CHICAGO — A contractor was fired upon early Monday morning after confronting a group of armed thieves stealing tools from his work vehicle in West Rogers Park — part of a rising wave of attacks targeting construction workers across the city.
The robbery happened around 5:46 a.m. in the 6800 block of North Seeley, according to a Chicago Police Department report. The worker had just spotted three masked men rifling through his parked truck when one of the suspects pulled a gun and fired in his direction.
Shots Fired, Suspects Flee in Stolen Infiniti
Fortunately, no injuries were reported. But the suspects — described as Black males in their mid-to-late teens, wearing dark clothing and ski masks — fled the scene in a black Infiniti, believed to have been stolen.
A witness told police that four males later abandoned the Infiniti and switched into another getaway vehicle. The gunman was specifically noted to be wearing a blue hoodie, which may help in further identification efforts.
Police are reviewing surveillance footage from the neighborhood and believe the group may be tied to a string of similar crimes reported citywide over the past month.
Part of a Larger Pattern Targeting Contractors
This isn’t an isolated incident. Similar robberies have been reported in:
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Portage Park, where masked thieves were caught on video stealing tools
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Logan Square and Lincoln Park, where construction crews were robbed at gunpoint
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Various Northwest and West Side neighborhoods, prompting community alerts from CPD
Chicago police now suspect the same group or related crews may be systematically targeting work trucks, often during early morning hours when contractors are just arriving at job sites.
West Rogers Park Under Scrutiny
West Rogers Park, though generally a quiet, residential neighborhood, has seen an uptick in targeted vehicle thefts and contractor-related robberies in 2025. Monday’s gunfire incident has shaken local workers, many of whom now say they are reconsidering when and where they start their day.
Have You Experienced Similar Theft or Seen Suspicious Crews?
If you’re a contractor or resident who has experienced similar break-ins, or if you have security footage that could assist CPD, you can share your story in the comments at ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com. Community awareness could be key to stopping this dangerous trend.
