Second Suspect Arrested In Video Gaming Machine Burglaries: Police

OAK LAWN, IL—A second suspect has been charged in a series of burglaries targeting video gaming terminals in the south suburbs, including two restaurants in Oak Lawn, police said.

Antoine Smith, 18, is believed to be part of a group of up to eight people who were seen fleeing La Cocina De Mama Restaurant, 5721 W. 95th St., in multiple vehicles when officers interrupted a burglary in progress on Jan. 8.

Police gave chase, but the suspects were able to elude capture. During the burglary, police said the group targeted the video gaming terminals inside the business, taking cash and damaging various video gaming machines.

Oak Lawn detectives, working in coordination with neighboring law enforcement agencies, have been conducting ongoing investigations into these incidents and other similar burglaries in the area.

Summit police arrested Smith in the 8300 block of South Oglesby Avenue in Chicago, and he was charged with attempted burglary in Summit.

Also on Friday, Oak Lawn police submitted evidence to the Cook County State’s Attorney, who approved one class 2 felony count of burglary for the Jan. 8 burglary of La Cocina De Mama. Worth police charged Smith for his alleged role in a similar incident in that town.

Last Wednesday, another 18-year-old man, Juelz Johnson, believed to be part of the group, was charged with two counts of felony burglary targeting gaming machines at La Cocina and the Feb. 5 break-in at Hashtag 95, 6260 W. 95th St.

Johnson, too, has been charged in two similar burglaries in Worth.