7 in custody after suspects allegedly fleeing smash-and-grab burglary downtown involved in deadly crash

CHICAGO — A man is dead and seven people are in custody after a string of crashes downtown following a smash-and-grab burglary at a high-end retail shop along the Magnificent Mile.

According to police, it all began around 5 a.m. Thursday, when a group of alleged thieves crashed a pickup truck into the Louis Vuitton store near the 100 block of East Walton Street.

Once inside, officers say the suspects allegedly stole merchandise from inside the store before fleeing the scene in a handful of vehicles waiting nearby, leaving the pickup truck at the scene.

SkyCam 9 was over the scene around 6:10 a.m. when authorities could be spotted surrounding the store and the truck that was sitting on the sidewalk, near the shop’s entrance.

As the suspect fled from the area, officers said one of the groups that was allegedly traveling in a Kia Stinger crashed into a Honda CR-V near the intersection of East Ohio Street and Michigan Avenue, just around the corner from the store.

Officers said the driver of the Honda, believed to be a 40-year-old man, suffered severe injuries in the crash and was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

The medical examiner has identified the man as Mark Arceta of Skokie.

Following the crash, five people who were allegedly inside the Kia were taken into custody. All five were then taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Following a search, officers said they recovered stolen goods from inside the Kia.

WGN-TV crews were on the ground when one vehicle with significant front-end damage and a second overturned vehicle with shattered windows could be seen resting near the median as police tape surrounded the scene.

As offices responded to the first crash scene, a separate group of officers responded to a crash involving a second vehicle, an Audi Q50, in the southbound lanes of Lake Shore Drive near the Museum Campus.

According to police, officers watched the Audi as it allegedly fled from the scene, but the driver eventually lost control of the vehicle along Lake Shore Drive.

SkyCam 9 was over the scene around 6:15 a.m. when the Audi with all four doors open could be seen resting the wrong way in the southbound lanes.

Officers said they were able to locate and arrest two individuals who allegedly fled from the vehicle. Officers also allegedly recovered stolen goods from the vehicle.

No injuries were reported in the second crash.

Offices have not yet identified the victim killed and charges against those arrested have not yet been announced.

An investigation into the burglary and crashes is ongoing.

Anyone with information on the incidents is asked to contact the CPD Area Three Detectives at 312-744-8263 or dial 911.

Those with information that could help authorities in their investigation can also leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously.