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CHICAGO (CBS) -- Smash-and-grab burglaries in the Wicker Park area have Chicago Police recommending a different type of solution.
It involves a type of shield over glass windows and doors that one can't even tell is there.
CBS 2's Sabrina Franza spoke Monday with some of the victims in this latest string of burglaries – and with a number of businesses determined to help stop burglaries in their tracks using the new technology.
Police issued a community alert over the weekend about the burglaries in Wicker Park and Humboldt Park. They say the same chain of events transpired in each burglary – thieves would break the front or side glass windows using a rock, brick, or crowbar, enter the business and steal money from a register, the cash register itself, a safe, and liquor.
One business, Mott Street Restaurant on Ashland Avenue, was hit four different times over a period of a month.
The incident times and locations were as follows:
"He broke into the back door, just went straight here, grabbed the money from the cash register, speakers, and just ran," said Tamer Jaradat, an employee at Western Food & Grocery.
Employees at the corner bodega claim the same happened the month before – and two before that.
"Three months ago, they broke in - they stole the ATM machine," Jaradat said.
It has gotten so bad that staff say they are prepared to defend themselves if necessary.
"Usually, people fear their lives too. Like, I have seven kids," Jaradat said. "If it takes me having to protect my life or my business, I'm going to do it."
He also said the frequency of thefts at the store impacts police response.
"Now if you call the cops like too much, every day, for stealing a bag of chips or pop, they're not going to show up in 10 or 20 minutes like before," he said. "It takes time."
In the community alert issued on the burglaries, police recommended using ArmorPlast – an unbreakable shield to fit over existing glass.
"We want to keep the bad guys outside the building - and that's what the product does," said Brad Campbell.
Campbell founded Riot Glass – a company that offers laminated security glass and ArmorPlast polycarbonate shields to keep glass from breaking easily. Chicago Police specifically linked to Riot Glass in their community alert.
"Our mission is to help prevent this and to stop this cycle," Campbell said, "and Riot Glass is really the next evolution in product development specifically for smash-and-grab crimes."
We thought it was interesting that police would recommend such technology. The company told us they have not communicated with CPD, and police did not respond to our request for comment.
We did learn the protective glass costs about $600 for a 3-foot by 3-foot window.
Windows are one of the most vulnerable entry points in any building. And, in today’s world, where threats like forced entry, burglary, smash-and-grab theft, rioting, and looting are all too common, having reliable and robust window security measures in place should be a top priority.
This is where Riot Glass®, a type of virtually unbreakable security glass for windows, comes into play.
Before diving into the details of Riot Glass® unbreakable security glazing solutions, it’s essential to understand the various security threats faced by commercial properties and their windows.
Standard annealed glass windows are incredibly vulnerable to forced entry, where intruders typically use tools like sledgehammers, bats, and pry bars to break through the glass and gain unauthorized access to a facility.
There are different motivations for forced entry, but burglary and smash-and-grab theft are two of the most common reasons that businesses fall victim to forced entry. Burglaries and smash-and-grab theft often involve opportunistic criminals who exploit weak points like windows to quickly grab valuable items.
Even with key components of a commercial security system installed, such as security cameras, glass break alarms, and motion sensing security lighting, businesses are still susceptible to forced entry and burglary — these things don’t do anything to physically keep bad guys out.
Experienced criminals know they can get in and out of a business quickly enough to avoid arrest, even if they set off alarms or otherwise draw attention to their activities in the process.
In areas prone to civil unrest, rioting and looting are another threat that can cause widespread damage and financial loss, with windows being a common target of vandalism and forced entry for the purpose of looting.
To counter these threats, many building and business owners often turn to traditional forced entry prevention solutions, such as window bars and grates, to prevent burglary, or plywood board ups to mitigate rioting and looting.
However, such traditional solutions are unsightly, meaning they won’t work for many types of businesses and facilities (like luxury retailers and government buildings), and can be ineffective (bars don’t fully cover glass to prevent breakage, and board ups require planning ahead).
In order to avoid the shortcomings of traditional forced entry mitigation solutions, commercial property owners should consider retrofitting virtually unbreakable Riot Glass® security glass over their vulnerable windows.
Riot Glass® is a cutting-edge line of security glazing products engineered to withstand significant impacts of all types, including those intentionally caused by forced entry attempts.
Riot Glass® virtually unbreakable window glazing is composed of multiple layers of specialized glazing materials, including polycarbonates, acrylics, and other plastics, laminated together to create an impenetrable access denial barrier.
While similar to other types of security glazing out there, its unique composition gives Riot Glass® a level of strength and resistance to breakage that is unmatched on the market.
Even when subjected to prolonged forced entry attempts and numerous high-force impacts, the security glass remains intact, protecting the windows behind and ensuring the security of the premises.
Riot Glass® serves as an uncompromisable deterrent against forced entry in all its forms. Its formidable strength makes it highly resistant to impacts from common burglary tools like hammers and crowbars, and it can even resist ballistic impacts from firearms.
Attempting to break through Riot Glass® requires an enormous amount of time and effort, discouraging would-be intruders and buying valuable time for security personnel or law enforcement to respond.
This added layer of protection is what most commercial properties are missing when it comes to stopping break-ins, preventing property damage and theft, and protecting building occupants from harm.
The high resilience of Riot Glass® makes it an ideal solution for safeguarding storefront windows and even in-store display cases against burglaries and smash-and-grabs.
When commercial glass is protected by Riot Glass®, attempts by opportunistic thieves to break it and gain quick access to a property will simply bounce off, forcing them to move on and seek an easier target or delaying them long enough to get caught in the act.
In times of civil unrest, windows often become prime targets for rioters and looters looking to cause property damage or take advantage of the chaos to make off with high-value merchandise.
Riot Glass® offers unparalleled protection against such threats. Its robust, one-of-a-kind construction and resistance to impacts make it capable of withstanding the forceful blows and impacts of hurled or swung objects during rioting.
Riot Glass® acts like a 24/7 board up, protecting storefront glass from breaking and safeguarding people and property within — without requiring all the forethought and labor that goes into traditional plywood board ups.
From high-end retail stores to government buildings, all types of commercial facilities are at risk for forced entry, and a building is only as strong as its windows.
By investing in Riot Glass® virtually unbreakable window glass, business owners and commercial property owners can significantly enhance their security measures and gain invaluable peace of mind.
Protecting commercial windows with Riot Glass® does what traditional components of commercial security systems don’t — physically denies access. With Riot Glass®, unbreakable window security is an achievable reality.
At Campbell Glass and Films, we are authorized dealers and installers of a full range of Riot Glass® security glazing products. Contact us today for a free consultation!
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