Frankfort’s Chill House Hit by Second Smash‑and‑Grab in a Month

Just after sunrise on Monday, deputies from the Will County Sheriff’s Office got a frantic call about a burglary in progress at The Chill House, a neighborhood bar located on the 7900 block of West Lincoln Highway.

According to the sheriff’s surveillance footage, three individuals dressed head‑to‑toe in black, their faces concealed by masks, forced their way inside. They wielded sledgehammers, smashing the glass doors and, once inside, targeting the bar’s gaming machines. The culprits ripped out cash drawers from several machines before fleeing in an unknown vehicle.

Police have not yet identified the suspects or the make and model of the getaway car. No arrests have been made, and the investigation remains open.

What makes this episode particularly unsettling is that it mirrors a burglary that took place at the same establishment just a few weeks earlier. In both cases, the motive appears to be a smash‑and‑grab operation focused on gambling equipment, a pattern the sheriff’s office is now treating as a serial crime.

Deputies said they’ve convened a task‑force meeting with neighboring jurisdictions to pool resources and develop a coordinated response to these kinds of thefts. “We’re staying proactive and vigilant,” a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office said, emphasizing that they will continue to patrol the area and work with business owners to enhance security.

Local patrons expressed frustration and concern. “It’s the third time we’ve heard about this,” said one regular, “and it feels like nobody’s safe.” The owner of The Chill House has not yet commented publicly, but it is expected that additional security measures, possibly including reinforced glass and upgraded alarm systems, will be considered.

Anyone with information about the burglary—or who may have seen a suspicious vehicle in the area early Monday morning—is urged to contact the Will County Sheriff’s Office.