RAVENSWOOD — Urban Pooch was one of several businesses broken into or vandalized in the North Side on Monday night.
One window of the business at 4501 N. Ravenswood Ave. broken Monday night but nothing was stolen according to Cara Shea, a supervisor at Urban Pooch.
The store also offers daycare and boarding to dogs, but Shea said all the dogs were okay.
“Thankfully the only window broken was in the front retail area and nowhere near where the dogs stay for day care and boarding,” Shea said.
Shea said it felt odd being one of the only businesses on the block vandalized.
“Since then we’ve gotten someone to board up our windows as a precaution,” Shea said. “We really didn’t think this area was going to have any problems Monday night.”
Ald. Matt Martin (47th) was touring the neighborhood again Tuesday and said there was an “uptick” in vandalism and looting in his ward compared to the weekend. City officials have emphasized that while property damage has come on the heels of citywide demonstrations, peaceful protesters are not the same people who are looting and damaging property.
”It’s just really depressing,” Martin said.
The majority of looting in the 47th Ward happened at large retail chains like the Target 3300 N. Ashland Ave. It was broken into by 30 people who were arrested by police, Martin said.
Martin said he visited the site Tuesday morning and spoke with the manager. It was not immediately clear if any merchandise was stolen but several registers, liquor bottles, and electronic equipment were damaged, he said.
Heartland Alliance’s 4411 N Ravenswood Ave. location had windows broken and graffiti critical of its executive director and the two immigrant detention centers that the nonprofit manages.
A tractor located at the Ravenswood Metra station was set on fire Monday night, Martin said. Other businesses that suffered damage included the CVS at 3944 N Western Ave., Jumbo Laundry at 1523 W. Lawrence Ave., and Pleasure Chest at 3436 N Lincoln Ave.
Additionally, ATMs were broken into at Marquette Bank at 1628 W. Irving Park Road and a convenience store at 4635 N Damen Ave.
“We believe that there remains a possibility that property damage may occur again tonight, but we are not aware of any specific threats,” Martin said.
Martin encouraged residents and business owners of the ward to secure their homes and property as a precaution. Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th) said police commanders said those damaging property are coming in “car caravans” from the suburbs, Missouri and Indiana.
“These looters were career criminals taking advantage of an already tense situation,” Vasquez said. “These were not people looting out of desperation.”
Ald. Rossana Rodriguez (33rd) drove throughout her ward Monday night and monitored social media to verify reports of looting.
“We should keep paying attention and be mindful of what is happening in the city as a whole,” Rodriguez said. “Some of the other wards are dealing with a lot right now and need our help.”
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