CHICAGO — Chicago police say citizen tips led them to a man suspected of being seen in a livestream video burglarizing an ATM during overnight looting last week.
Arron Neal was arrested on charges of burglary and criminal damage to property, Police Supt. David Brown said Saturday.
Police said Neal was livestreaming when he smashed an ATM on North State Street with a hammer, Fox 32 Chicago reported.
After posting the video on YouTube, Chicago Police Department then fielded tips from viewers, which led to the suspect.
“We posted this video on our website and within 90 minutes, members of the community contacted us and solved this crime,” Brown said, according to the Chicago Sun Times. “What happened downtown and on the West Side last week had nothing to do with protesting, it was criminal behavior, and it will not be tolerated in the city of Chicago.”
As a result, Neal was jailed in lieu of $100,000 bond Saturday, the paper reported.
Thus far, prosecutors have brought charges in 42 cases against looting suspects, FOX reported.
Supt. David Brown @ChiefDavidBrown and Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan Announce Felony Charges of Burglary and Criminal Damage to Property against Arron Neal – Identified as Offender who Live Streamed Attempt to Break into ATM during recent looting. #ChicagoPolice pic.twitter.com/OaAiSmFeRB
— Tom Ahern (@TAhern_) August 15, 2020
Police said looting damaged a number of luxury stores on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile.
