Police believe these three people are part of a purse theft and pickpocket crew working the Loop. (Chicago Police Department)

CHICAGO — Three well-dressed thieves entered a Loop restaurant, sneakily stole a woman’s purse, and headed out the door.

That’s just one of dozens of similar thefts and pickpocket cases reported at downtown bars, restaurants and hotels since early June, according to Chicago police.

On Monday, the CPD issued two warnings about the crime pattern.

The video, recorded on July 2 at Elephant & Castle, 185 North Wabash, shows two men wearing sport coats enter with a woman around 5:36 p.m.

At one point in the footage, the woman and one of the men sit down at a table as the man appears to rifle through a purse. Check it out:

CPD said they don’t know who committed “an overwhelming majority of the incidents.” In addition to the group, several thefts were committed by a solo Black male in his mid-20s or mid-30s, according to the police alert.

The thieves typically use the victims’ debit and credit cards to immediately make fraudulent purchases.

People have reported cases at the following locations and times:

  • 100 block of South Michigan on June 2 at 1:00 p.m.
  • 100 block of East Cermak on June 3 at 11:30 a.m.
  • 100 block of South Clark on June 5 at 1:00 p.m.
  • 200 block of North Michigan on June 8 at 6:00 p.m.
  • the first block of East Wacker on June 9 at 2:15 p.m.
  • 300 block of North Columbus on June 10 at 5:30 p.m.
  • 100 block of West Monroe on June 11 at 1:00 p.m.
  • 100 block of South La Salle on June 13 at noon.
  • the first block of West Wacker on June 14 at 5:00 p.m.
  • the first block of North Michigan on June 15 at 12:30 p.m.
  • 100 block of West Jackson on June 15 at 6:15 p.m.
  • 100 block of North State on June 16 at 1:45 p.m.
  • the first block of North State on June 23 at 5:00 p.m.
  • the first block of East Wacker on June 24 at 11:00 p.m.
  • 200 block of South Wacker on June 25 at 2:00 p.m.
  • the first block of West Monroe on June 27 at 2:18 p.m.
  • 100 block of North Wabash on June 27 at 4:00 p.m.
  • 200 block of South Wabash on June 29 at 1:00 p.m.
  • 70 East Lake on July 2 at 11:40 a.m.
  • 40 North Clinton on July 2 at 4:15 p.m.
  • 100 block of North Michigan on July 3 at 5:00 p.m.
  • 100 block of South Michigan on July 4 at 2:00 p.m.
  • 100 block of North Wabash on July 2 at 5:36 p.m.

Anyone with information about the crimes can contact Area Three detectives at 312-744-8263. The cases are organized under crime pattern #P24-3-036.

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