* Sun-Times

Two people were shot, more than 100 people were arrested and 13 police officers were injured as crowds broke windows and looted stores along Michigan Avenue and on the Near North Side overnight and into Monday morning. […]

[Supt. David Brown] said “the seeds for the shameful destruction we saw last night” started with a police-involved shooting in Englewood Sunday afternoon. About 2:30 p.m., officers responded to a report of a man with a gun. He fled as they arrived, Brown said, and fired at officers. They returned fire, striking the man, who was taken to the University of Chicago Hospital and is expected to survive. The 20-year-old man had previously faced charges of domestic battery, reckless conduct and child endangerment, Brown said.

After the shooting, a crowd gathered in the area. “Tempers flared, fueled by misinformation,” Brown said. Shortly after that, police became aware of “several social media posts” about looting planned downtown. He said the department reacted by deploying 400 officers to the downtown area. […]

The first looting incident, Brown said, was at 87th Street and the Dan Ryan Expressway, but “soon, car caravans were headed into the Loop” to begin looting.

* This sounds a lot like what happened the last time…

Witnesses said the looting appeared to be a coordinated effort with multiple cars dropping off groups of people, who then smash-and-grab merchandise in the store, and take off running in opposite directions before police can respond to each incident.

They organize large groups on social media and then try to overwhelm any police response with their numbers…

The looting began shortly after midnight as people darted through broken store windows and doors along Michigan Avenue carrying shopping bags full of merchandise. Cars dropped off more people as the crowd grew. At least one U-Haul van was seen pulling up. […]

The looting seemed to be centered in Streeterville and North Michigan Avenue, but some looting was reported on State Street in the Loop and on the Near North Side. By 4 a.m. police appeared to be getting things under control.

But some vandalism continued into the daylight hours, and the CTA suspended train and bus service into downtown during the morning rush, while the Illinois state police blocked off ramps from expressways. Bridges across the Chicago River were raised, except for the one on LaSalle Street for emergency vehicles.

* This is from around 12:30 this morning…

       

119 Comments - Long Time - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:20 am: Is Chicago a better city today than it was 20 years ago? - Marquee - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:20 am: Gangs have found something more profitable than drug dealing - Downstate - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:23 am: But at least the beachfront is safe from covid crowds. /s/ - Amalia - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:25 am: when you don’t prosecute felony theft as it is stated in the law, some people are unafraid to act criminally. but, hey, it’s just property, right? - Fighter of Foo - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:25 am: The most unpopular opinion on this site is the reality that with the executive orders and this in the city. Suburban women will break for Trump. I expect this post to be flagged. But, mother’s want safety. This is too close to home. Trump may not win Illinois, he will not be trounced. - iggy - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:27 am: Remember when half naked men were congregating at Montrose beach this weekend, and the Mayor literally tweeted that she herself went down to the beach to see it in person. if only she applied that type of hands on leadership to the “mostly peaceful” looters running wild on the Mag mile. - City Zen - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:31 am: ==Is Chicago a better city today than it was 20 years ago?== At least it had revenue from its parking meters. - AD - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:33 am: Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Which of these businesses won’t be coming back? Which will have increased insurance premiums and lower revenue that put them out of business? - Cook County Thinker - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:35 am: The sad thing is some businesses won’t come back after being hit two times in a short period of time.Can social justice Chicago handle violence? - Anonymous - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:35 am: Kudos to the Chicago PD for doing a great job; What a show of professionalism and commitment. - cermak_rd - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:35 am: has anyone tried tracing the merchandise to see where it is converted to cash? If you break that side of the equation it might put a damper on these sorts of activities. - Anon - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:37 am: Chicago has truly become Gotham City but I don’t think Ken Griffin is going to suit up as Batman to save the day. - Hmmmmmmmmm - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:38 am: The silence from the black caucus is deafening. - TinyDancer(FKASue) - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:40 am: “Tempers flared, fueled by misinformation,” Would love to know who instigated this. Is there any way for them to trace social media postings? - Lester Holt’s Mustache - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:41 am: 14 separate vehicles? Sounds like an organized crime ring, using social media to plan downtown raids whenever a separate event draws police attention elsewhere. We’ve been promised federal help, surely this is something they can investigate. If so, it’ll be an example of why cities shouldn’t reject assistance out of hand - Bruce (no not him) - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:41 am: I am unable to say what i really think about this, pretty much all the words are banned. - Independent - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:42 am: “Trump may not win Illinois, he will not be trounced.” He will still be trounced in Illinois. But you are on to something with suburban voters in general. They could be frightened by the looting into voting for Trump. Looting is a gift to Trump, perhaps his best way to salvage his candidacy. - Jose Abreu's Next Homer - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:43 am: Super Lori ready to build a wall at the beach but when there’s real trouble she comes in well after the fact and spouts toothless words. Fun times. - ChicagoVinny - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:45 am: The glee of some commentators about a sad night makes me think they might not have good faith concerns about the welfare of the city. - Rich Miller - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:49 am: ===makes me think they might not have good faith concerns=== Ya think? lol - striketoo - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:50 am: Kim Fox’s refusal to prosecute shoplifters sent the wrong message and that message was received. - Responsa - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:50 am: We are watching a great city die in real time. I am heartsick. Mayor Lightfoot and Chief Brown do not have what it takes to control this overt violence and criminality. - TinyDancer(FKASue) - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:54 am: =Looting is a gift to Trump, perhaps his best way to salvage his candidacy.= Exactly. We need to find out who’s behind this. - 40th Ward Libertarian - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:54 am: Mayor Lightweight gets all huffy after a legitimate question by ABC’s Craig Wall. “Don’t bait us.” Zero leadership. - All this - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:55 am: ==The silence from the black caucus is deafening.== I don’t understand what this means. Do you mean to say members of the black caucus approve looting? - Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:56 am: === Suburban women will break for Trump.=== (Sigh) They won’t. The cratered numbers for women, and educated (college or higher) are so tremendously low, looting will not make a difference in how Trump is perceived. ===This is too close to home.=== It’s not. Ask downstate. Downstate Illinois makes a point it’s a “world apart”, and old angry white suburban voters are already with Trump. ===Trump may not win Illinois, he will not be trounced.=== Only if you think 16+ points isn’t a trouncing… Here’s the thing, and “to the post” The national narrative to try to take advantage of “Chicago” or “Portland” or trying to, unvarnishedly, make it a racial fear, the fear here in Chicago and locally is that organized movement-like tactics of hitting one place to then counter attack (and it’s an attack) to overwhelm another place to take advantage of spread out resources. That’s a fear. The need to try to stay ahead of what is being, maybe, discussed on social media, the nimbleness of law enforcement is predicated on good intelligence, and preparedness. - bogey golfer - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:56 am: Real estate offices are fielding emails and phone calls this morning from condo owners looking for places a bit outside of the City. - Muddy trail - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 9:59 am: == Trump. Looting is a gift to Trump, perhaps his best way to salvage his candidacy.== How so? It was done on his watch. Presidents own. - Fighter of Foo - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:00 am: This is no gift for trump or anyone. It’s sad and avoidable. The mayor blasts gatherings on the lakefront and this occurs. The biggest issue for our state is that the Republicans have abandoned us. If there were average candidates, they would have a real shot. Suburbs will break towards trump in huge numbers. Polls won’t show it. The mothers will hold there noses and vote for leadership. Callous personality or not. - Cook county thinker - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:00 am: -glee- Anyone who takes glee in property damage,injured security guards, injured police, and a declining city of Chicago should show a little compassion to those affected by the violence. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:01 am: If you pair “this”; ===makes me think they might not have good faith concerns=== With this; ===The silence from the black caucus is deafening.=== The phonies here are trying to make a point like this; === Suburban women will break for Trump. … But, mother’s want safety. This is too close to home. Trump may not win Illinois, he will not be trounced.=== It’s an opportunity for some it appears to “signal”, and not subtly. - Frumpy White Guy - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:01 am: Take a screenshot of this post cause I’m going to be the first to make a prediction that will come true. Republican are going to do win just about everything. Unfortunately, fear and anger over the looting and soft on crime reaction will push independents to the law and order party, - Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:03 am: ===Suburbs will break towards trump in huge numbers. Polls won’t show it. The mothers will hold there noses and vote for leadership.=== You do realize, (maybe you don’t), the underpinnings to you’re thoughts? You also realize the suburbs aren’t lily white like Naperville’s mural no one noticed lacked diversity… right? - Fighter of Foo - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:04 am: OW. I am confused? There is no signal. When you don’t feel safe for your kids, 20 miles away from the western burbs, we will see in November. Most people see what this is. Anarchy. - Downstate - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:05 am: “makes me think they might not have good faith concerns” Nice deflection. Chicago has supporters and detractors. Worrying about what detractors are saying, does nothing to solve the problem of death and mayhem. - Fighter of Foo - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:07 am: Diversity is more than the color of your skin. Thoughts, and religion. You may be the one with the “signal” I notice people. Not color. - Grandson of Man - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:08 am: This is happening in Trump’s America, a raging pandemic, looting, civil unrest, etc. Suburban voters remember a safer and healthier America, just a few short years ago under Obama and Biden. - All this - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:09 am: ==has anyone tried tracing the merchandise to see where it is converted to cash? If you break that side of the equation it might put a damper on these sorts of activities.== Bingo. Retail theft had been rising steadily for the last decade. Retail theft increase is caused by better avenues for fencing stolen products. In the bad old days how could you convert a bag of tube socks or a handful of cheap sunglasses to cash? It would be hard work, you’d be better off working for the money. So it wasn’t worth the trouble. Now you can go on Amazon or EBay or Craigslist and sell those things. - Derek Smalls - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:09 am: Once LL is done with her first priority, shifting blame away from the 5th floor, what is the plan to respond more quickly the next time this happens? COVID restrictions, lousy economy and lethargic law enforcement response creates conditions ripe for a repeat. What then? Another round of closing the barn door after the horses are out and angry press statements? Results have been unimpressive the first 2 times. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:10 am: ===Republican are going to do win just about everything.=== Mathematically, the Illinois Senate can’t flip, the Illinois House, show me the 16 seats flipping. Let me *see* those seats. ===Most people see what this is. Anarchy.=== Only those who see this as an “urban scare”… who already vote with Trump and agree on race. Show me polling, you don’t get “the polls lie”, because the polls didn’t lie in 2016, the popular vote was well within the polling MoE - Rod - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:11 am: One of the most disturbing aspects of the looting in Downtown Chicago, Mag mile, and extending to the near north side (even the Apple store built like a fort) was the fact the police simply could not detain looters in part because they were not carrying massive numbers of plastic cuffs to line looters up on the streets to be held for processing. Sup Brown told the people he was creating a mobile unit to deal with mass disturbances, I guess they all had Sunday night off. Moreover from the massive amount of video aired in particular by ABC 7 not one CPD officer could be seen dressed in full riot gear all the way up to 8 am. Brown also told us his officers were not going to get hurt needlessly anymore and would be using full turtle suits after the Columbus statue riot several weeks ago. That did not happen either. Lightfoot is now in very deep trouble, the gem of Chicago’s retail sector has been trashed twice and the insurance companies will cancel even more policies. - 33rd ward - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:11 am: These businesses need to better protect their 3k purses. Like in Europe, the stores should lock-down better at night. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:12 am: ===Thoughts, and religion.=== If you think Trump is a religious leader too.., you honestly can’t be helped, bud. - fs - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:15 am: == Mayor Lightfoot and Chief Brown do not have what it takes to control this overt violence and criminality.== You left someone off of your list. Specifically, the person who refused to charge many of those who rioted and looted the last time. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:17 am: === There is no poll that will show that people will break for trump in the burbs.=== Then move on from me. Saying religious racist will come home to Trump because they’re afraid of looting 20 miles from their house isn’t a compelling argument. - Rich Miller - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:18 am: Y’all need to stop talking about politics in the suburbs and get back to the topic at hand or banishments will follow. Making sweeping predictions about an election that’s still months away over one night of looting is not only stupid, it’s unreliable. Move along or you’ll be moved along. Last warning. - Da Big Bad Wolf - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:18 am: === and lethargic law enforcement response creates conditions ripe for a repeat. === What lethargic response? Police arrested 100 people. - Allin - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:20 am: =These businesses need to better protect their 3k purses. Like in Europe, the stores should lock-down better at night.= I think you think that only “luxury stores” were looted. Close to 20 7-Elevens were looted and destroyed. I do not see many 3k purses being sold there. Finally, wow. Let’s make the businesses responsible for the actions of the looters. That makes sense. - Benjamin - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:21 am: ===The silence from the black caucus is deafening.=== It happened overnight, and you posted at 9:38 AM. At least give them a chance to have a cup of coffee and go to work. Also: why is this the Black caucus’s problem? - Da Big Bad Wolf - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:24 am: ===I don’t think Ken Griffin is going to suit up as Batman to save the day.=== And do what? Swing his bed post at the looters? - Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:26 am: Rich, apologies. To go back to the post itself and how things seemingly went with vans and coordination, the city itself needs to look at the realities of strong intelligence and use the resources from the feds too towards understanding what is happening in preparation of the events that eventually do happen. - Anonymous - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:27 am: Trump voters are going to vote for Trump. People who vote for Trump because they’re afraid of “the urban folk” they’re already Trump voters. - A Guy - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:30 am: Not even bothering with the “ruse” of a peaceful protest appetizer before the full entree of violence and looting. This is real deterioration. I cry for my city. - RNUG - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:30 am: == Mayor Lightfoot and Chief Brown do not have what it takes to control this overt violence and criminality. == Given past achievements, I suspect Chief Brown and the CPD could stop it cold if given free rein. I don’t think the Mayor is to that point yet. - Abby Normal - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:30 am: == Finally, wow. Let’s make the businesses responsible for the actions of the looters.== Insurance companies do this all the time. They give discounts to people with security systems. They don’t pay on a stolen car if you leave it with the keys in the ignition. Also: “God helps those who help themselves.” - Mayo Sandwich - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:32 am: “ Not even bothering with the “ruse” of a peaceful protest appetizer before the full entree of violence and looting. This is real deterioration.” They always were separate people anyway. - 33rd ward - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:34 am: “=These businesses need to better protect their 3k purses. Like in Europe, the stores should lock-down better at night.= I think you think that only “luxury stores” were looted. Close to 20 7-Elevens were looted and destroyed. I do not see many 3k purses being sold there. Finally, wow. Let’s make the businesses responsible for the actions of the looters. That makes sense.” If you’ve ever been to European cities at night, you’d notice the way they protect things. They don’t just have glass windows with expensive merchandise. Should we have a world where nobody steals? Absolutely. Will we have that world? Nope. So we might as well be smart about it. I’m not blaming a business for looting. I’m blaming them for not anticipating “smash and grab” techniques at this point. I would bet the cannabis stores didn’t get as looted. Maybe they lock their stuff down better. After all, they can’t insure it, like the designers. - Pickalane - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:34 am: =insurance companies do this all of the time= Insurance companies make businesses responsible for the actions of looters? - Really? - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:36 am: =God helps those who help themselves= Said the looters as they were walking out of the destroyed stores. - Rich Miller - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:37 am: ===They always were separate people anyway. === Exactly. - Da Big Bad Wolf - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:40 am: === the police simply could not detain looters=== The police arrested 100 people. - Back to the Future - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:43 am: Thank You CPD. - Downstate - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:45 am: “They always were separate people anyway.” If even one of the looters claims that they were looting in protest, then that could conceivably make this a protest. - Fly like an eagle - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:46 am: == Said the looters as they were walking out of the destroyed stores.== So you’re saying the looters are religious? - RNUG - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:47 am: == the police simply could not detain looters == A Texas sheriff managed to arrest something like 647 protesters blocking a bridge and plasti-cuff all of them. CPD should be able to do the same given the latitude to do so. - HighSox - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:47 am: ===Also: “God helps those who help themselves.”=== It’s just a matter of time before store owners start taking matters into their own hands-waiting inside automatic weapons to protect their businesses. Surprised it hasn’t happened yet. - Downstate - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:47 am: The “defund the police” movement which is loosely affiliated with BLM and AntiFa have recommended that police funding should go towards social work and other behavioral specialists. I wonder how that alternative funding would have changed what happened last night? - Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:48 am: ===If even one of the looters claims that they were looting in protest, then that could conceivably make this a protest.=== If your goal is to try to link and taint protests to what exactly happened last night, that might say more about you than you realize. “… then that could conceivably make this a protest.” It’s like a hoping that the link can be made, but in actuality honest eyes never have seen the organized looters in vans with coordination as protesters. - Derek Smalls - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:49 am: Wolf, there were over 100 arrests in the May looting. Maybe these 100 arrests will have an impact those 100 didn’t. Foxx has to follow through. Charges can be dismissed or pled down. I just hope they have an effective plan if it happens again that can avoid the breadth and scope of the first two. - Amalia - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:50 am: way back in the days of the legitimate protests(weeks ago), criminals started organizing looting using rented trucks and lines of fancy cars. they used the cover of the legitimate protests to do their organized crime work. this time there is a whiff of legitimate protest (conflation of a police shooting over the weekend with a shooting of a 15 year old a few years ago) that is talked about on activist twitter ( and seemingly condoning lawlessness) and here we go again with the organized looting. plates from out of state, twitter notices of where to meet up. nothing more than the modern mob. - cermak_rd - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:50 am: I do think businesses can do more to prevent this kind of thing, not trying to blame them, just pointing out they have a self-interest. The most obvious would be to get rid of the glass. Only a few businesses have window displays now, so brick them up and put LED monitors up that show the wares and offerings of the businesses. Or if a display is a must then a more break resistant transparent material. If the looters have to get out a blowtorch or power saw, it would slow them down a bit. And have some nice security cameras set up with video saved on a remote server. - Mayo Sandwich - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:53 am: “If even one of the looters claims that they were looting in protest, then that could conceivably make this a protest.” I don’t follow your logic. Such a claim wouldn’t help a looter if he is caught. And a claim if he wasn’t caught (on social media for example) would lead to him being caught. So why would a looter ever make that claim? - Rich Miller - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:54 am: ===then that could conceivably make this a protest=== In your mind, sure. But your mind isn’t the most reliable. - Thomas P. - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:56 am: “The mayor blasts gatherings on the lakefront and this occurs” As she should. The COVID virus is a danger to society. - 1st Ward - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:56 am: We have seen this mobilization through social media over the last few years (targeting an individual store) not on the scale that we are currently seeing. I’m not sure what the answer to this is. If dozens or hundreds of people organize at once over social media in a a couple of hours it’s hard to have a coordinated response to prevent. If police get a tip and deploy to one location then the individuals can switch to a different location just as quick. Felony stealing threshold is >$1,000 I believe. Stealing clothes, purses, etc. during normal business hours is one thing; shattering glass and breaking into the store to steal should be treated differently with lower thresholds not a DPA or misdemeanor. - Two to tango - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:58 am: - - -It’s just a matter of time before store owners start taking matters into their own hands-waiting inside automatic weapons to protect their businesses.- - - So every evening the owners would be sleeping in their stores. Nice and snug with guns under their pillows. Lol - Rich Miller - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 10:59 am: ===before store owners start taking matters=== Yeah, make sure to let me know when the CEO of Saks takes up arms in Chicago. - 1st Ward - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 11:00 am: “I do think businesses can do more to prevent this kind of thing” The individual business likely doesn’t own or control the windows since its a leased store. The property owner needs to step up on this. Have metal rolldowns in place after business hours. During business hours the glass can be there. - HighSox - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 11:07 am: ==Yeah, make sure to let me know when the CEO of Saks takes up arms in Chicago.== More likely a 7-Eleven or small business owner. - Last Bull Moose - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 11:07 am: Lightfoot said 400 officers were deployed. There were 100 arrests. I would expect at least one arrest per officer. CPD needs a non-lethal way to stop people fleeing arrest. I don’t care if it’s lassoes, bolas, tranquilizer darts, or whatever. Somebody needs to work the problem. - Yucko - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 11:11 am: Mayor Lightfoot has lost control of the city of Chicago, and Illinois’s Governor is flying around the state blaming the Federal Government for all of the States problems. Two Political rookies drowning in their own self serving rhetoric - Scott Fawell's Cellmate - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 11:12 am: Rich, I hear you about Saks’CEO, buy WGN-TV just had on air the owner of a small shop on Rush. He said his alarm went off at 2 a.m. and he came to his store. People had broken the windows and entered the store. Much of his merchandise was gone but not all of it. He sad the 7-Eleven owner next to his shop was also outside with a baseball bat. When a truck with a trailer pulled up, the 7-Eleven owner yelled he had a gun. The truck driver and the 7-Eleven owner yelled at each other but the truck driver drove away. The shop owner said he’ll be at his shop tonight. He said he was scared and tired - and when asked if he’d get a gun, he didn’t answer. - Downstate - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 11:14 am: “In your mind, sure. But your mind isn’t the most reliable.” Rich, Sure. Attack the messenger. I’ve been accused of racial insensitivity on this board. And when I offered to provide my bonafides, it was rejected. I’ve given detail of why businesses and individuals are leaving Illinois. When challenged, I offered to allow the skeptics to communicate with my sources directly. Again it was rejected. I live Downstate, but I’ve been involved in efforts to bring social programs into Chicago. You might not always agree with me but I think your comment was uncalled for. - CubsFan16 - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 11:17 am: 1. The looting and violence taking place in our great city is a tragedy. 2. Decisive action needs to be taken to prevent this tragedy from happening again. Period. 3. Let’s focus on solutions instead of using this to throw political bombs at each other. 4. If you want to criticize elected officials’ specific policies and actions in trying to find a solution go for it, but as Rich said, using this to make unfounded (and unlikely) political predictions is just silly and useless. - SSL - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 11:20 am: There’s no easy solution here. Ending it in the short term would take a heavy handed approach. Despite the posturing, the political will to enact such an approach doesn’t exist. The mayor and governor said a few things this morning and when the serious questions from the media started they simply walked away. They don’t have answers. This is another strike against a state that can’t afford any more. It isn’t anything to feel good about. - DuPage Saint - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 11:26 am: These are not just glass windows. Look at some video. Some of it has to be the thickest bullet proof glass ever made. The looters had to work at it to break it. On one a car ran into a he window three or four times before glass broke. It is not just smash and grab on high end stores - Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 11:26 am: - Downstate - Your grievances are noted. The real victims… are the businesses of Chicago last night. Not you. Thanks. - Mr. Green Genes - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 11:33 am: “ Lightfoot said 400 officers were deployed. There were 100 arrests.” First of all 100 arrests is a huge amount of people arrested. “I would expect at least one arrest per officer.” Second, quotas cause police to arrest just to keep their jobs. They end up arresting the person going home. The person just passing by. This isn’t helpful at all. - Lurker - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 11:40 am: I do agree with Rich that the Trump discussion was unhelpful but I did wonder, didn’t Trump send in personnel and aren’t they still there? If so, did any of them make arrests? - Mr. Green Genes - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 11:40 am: “ If even one of the looters claims that they were looting in protest, then that could conceivably make this a protest.” Then you say “ Sure. Attack the messenger.” How was that any kind of message? Some theoretical thing that will never happen. Who is that helpful to? - Da Big Bad Wolf - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 11:42 am: === let it burn.=== You seem nice. - A Guy - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 11:43 am: This mess was recorded by thousands of cameras, public and private. I would suspect that reviewing this footage will result in more arrests than we can count to. Kim Foxx better up her game in a hurry. Everyone is watching this mess. It’s time to re-establish order in the city. These thugs are “afraid” of nothing and no one right now. If that doesn’t change, the perimeter will just keep growing. You have to decide to Stop this if you hope to. I get the sense this Mayor may just have reached her limit on this nonsense. - RNUG - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 11:46 am: == didn’t Trump send in personnel and aren’t they still there == The Fed personnel are mostly back office and logistics support, not feet on the ground patrolling. You want feet on the ground, call upnthr National Guard. - Rich Miller - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 11:52 am: ===You want feet on the ground, call upnthr National Guard=== Let’s not and say we did. - Cassandra - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 11:55 am: How long will there be stores to protect. Will retail businesses accelerate their online presence (or go out of business).This seems to have been happening already nationally but perhaps the looting will give it a push-on top of the pandemic of course. Could our future be a few posh shopping centers in “safe” areas with heavy security and most purchases online? For the moneyed classes anyway. - Donnie Elgin - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 12:03 pm: “. When a truck with a trailer pulled up, the 7-Eleven owner yelled he had a gun. The truck driver and the 7-Eleven owner yelled at each other but the truck driver drove away” This event will simply move more folks into the category of a gun owner. - 1st Ward - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 12:07 pm: “Could our future be a few posh shopping centers in “safe” areas with heavy security and most purchases online?” Lincoln Park, Near North, River North, and the loop were looted. Heavy security - in River North a security officer was shot in the back protecting businesses. Retail has been pushed online due to the pandemic. Maybe a solution is a smaller store size to ask questions with some models of merchandise on display. The purchase is made online at the store or from your home. No buying the item directly in the store. Inventory is than shipped from the warehouse to the store for pick-up or directly to your home. The last mile delivery options is a solution. - Last Bull Moose - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 12:14 pm: Mr. Green Genes. There was no mention of an arrest quota. The video I saw had a lot more looters than police. The police could have arrested moreover than 100 people. - Mr. Green Genes - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 12:26 pm: Last Bill Moose how many looters total were there? - Disparate - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 1:08 pm: Kim Fox and Lori Lightfoot are the two key players in this city crisis. The cities future hangs in the balance. We have heard a lot about the plight of the minority population and have heard a lot about the guns from Indiana. What I want to hear is the strategy for how we protect our city from those who destroy the businesses and city’s financial base. What is the plan? - Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 1:09 pm: ===If that doesn’t change, the perimeter will just keep growing.=== Seems it keep going to the Loop or Mag Mile, in vans and controlled and organized waves. Are you worried about Naperville next? - A Guy - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 1:23 pm: ==Are you worried about Naperville next?=== Yes. Since we’ve already had looting there. And boarded up Hinsdale, Elmhurst, Oak Brook, Yorktown in Lombard, a Best Buy in Downers Grove. The Mag Mile is the most valuable tax producing asset in the city. When it’s been deposed, where do you go next? We’ve gotten a taste of threats to higher end suburban malls and higher end streetscapes. It followed the original looting on the Mag mile. Maybe you want to live this way. I don’t. The most basic compact with government is protection of lives and property. That’s not happening. - cermak_rd - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 1:26 pm: Donnie Elgin, But more gun ownership by small business owners looking to protect their businesses is really not a problem as long as they are legitimately buying their weapon and securing it when not in use. Guns in those types of hands don’t tend to become problems. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 1:31 pm: === Since we’ve already had looting there. And boarded up Hinsdale, Elmhurst, Oak Brook, Yorktown in Lombard, a Best Buy in Downers Grove.=== When was that? How and when did it eventually move to the ‘burbs? Were there marches and protests? You think last night… is going to lead… to looting in the burbs? As the Trumpkin, I’m sure you “believe” that, but… === We’ve gotten a taste of threats to higher end suburban malls and higher end streetscapes. It followed the original looting on the Mag mile. Maybe you want to live this way. I don’t. The most basic compact with government is protection of lives and property. That’s not happening.=== That was during the guise of protests. No one is protesting in the ‘burbs right now, no cover for the seemingly coordinated effort to loot. - A Guy - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 2:21 pm: I think I’ll just let that comment sit there…you must have dozed off for a couple of weeks there. You’re factually uninformed about protests and looting in DuPage County. And blissfully so. You’ve had a hard day on this thread today. - Todd - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 2:26 pm: Willie – George Floyd wasn’t killed in Chicago, but those protests that turned into riots made it here. now it seems any police shooting becomes a flashpoint for a protest that is taken advantage of by professional provocateur’s. Last night’s events didn’t even attempt to hide behind a protest. it was used as an excuse for blatant criminal activity which they are being allowed to do largely un interrupted. And if they can get away with it there they may feel they can get away with it out here. thats why the shelves at gun stores are empty of most handguns and ammo - Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 2:42 pm: === I think I’ll just let that comment sit there…=== … cause you couldn’t answer the question. That was a national movement with ongoing protests and marches. Last night wasn’t that. At all. I get it. Anything to reconcile your Trumpkin thoughts, like “law and order” in your neighborhood, when in actuality what happened last night wasn’t in any ball park of any real protest. === now it seems any police shooting becomes a flashpoint for a protest that is taken advantage of by professional provocateur’s.=== While the looters seemed bent on thievery and mayhem, there’s nothing from last night that has any National momentum or legs towards social justice, or any corner elsewhere towards helping the looters === And if they can get away with it there they may feel they can get away with it out here.=== The only way that’s true is admitting that the protests themselves are removed from these bad actors and these bad actors are of themselves an organized gang-type looking for a spree. Besides speculation… === And if they can get away with it there they may feel they can get away with it out here. thats why the shelves at gun stores are empty of most handguns and ammo=== And my friend, you know I support the 2A Hope you’re well, - Todd -, my sincere best to you and yours. Use that pool… :) - Last Bull Moose - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 2:47 pm: Police forces near Chicago need to worry about copycat looters. If the looters think they can get away with it, they will try. It is hard for the police to stay on high alert. - Fr. Murphy - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 3:06 pm: The parents or grand parents of these youthful looters should drag them down to the closest police precinct today with their stolen goods. How can they not? - Todd - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 3:08 pm: === And if they can get away with it there they may feel they can get away with it out here.=== The only way that’s true is admitting that the protests themselves are removed from these bad actors and these bad actors are of themselves an organized gang-type looking for a spree. Besides speculation… I actually believe that a large part of the previous protests were peaceful people. I think they have subsequently had part of their movement hijacked by others. and yes I do think there are bad actors who are looking for an opportunity to enhance their bottom line. ==And my friend, you know I support the 2A== The funny thing is its not guy like me this time. its a whole lot of new people who are realizing the old saying no one is coming to help you’re on your own Pools great, just got out. You should come over and check it out and enjoy some whiskey - Rich Miller - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 3:10 pm: ===youthful looters=== Some didn’t look all that youthful to me. - Da Big Bad Wolf - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 3:15 pm: === which they are being allowed to do largely un interrupted.=== How are looters being allowed to do looting uninterrupted? Police arrested 100 last night. And police will be looking at surveillance tapes. - Da Big Bad Wolf - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 3:28 pm: === What I want to hear is the strategy for how we protect our city from those who destroy the businesses and city’s financial base. What is the plan?=== You saw the strategy. Someone saw something on social media. They alerted the police. The police sent out 400 souls who arrested a bunch of looters. - Mr. Green Genes - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 3:35 pm: “ Police forces near Chicago need to worry about copycat looters. If the looters think they can get away with it, they will try.“ And polices forces not near Chicago, since it was national news, the concept of using social media to loot might become a thing. How many looters total were there last night? - Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 3:54 pm: ===Pools great, just got out. You should come over and check it out and enjoy some whiskey=== I should. Thinking September. I’m out for the near term. Whiskey sounds good bud. Be safe, the weather out your way, seek shelter. - Andy - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 4:04 pm: Republican but I agree here… == Looting is a gift to Trump, perhaps his best way to salvage his candidacy.== How so? It was done on his watch. Presidents own.== - cermak_rd - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 4:05 pm: According to the news, the North Riverside mall was closed earlier today as a preventative measure. It was hit hard in the last round of lootings. - Abby Normal - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 4:52 pm: == Insurance companies make businesses responsible for the actions of looters?== You don’t understand how insurance works? If they have to pay out your premium goes up. If you’re negligent they might not pay out at all. Read the fine print. - Southwest Sider - Monday, Aug 10, 20 @ 5:02 pm: Something positive to say: I was on the southside today and I was impressed with the strategy that was implemented to prevent looting. It didn’t spread to these neighborhoods. I’m thankful for those who participated. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.