Chicago police issued a community alert warning business owners in the Bronzevile neighborhood of an increase of burglaries in recent days.

The break-ins happened on New Year’s Eve and the following days in the early morning hours and late at night. Four to five robbers smashed the front door of businesses with a brick or rock to enter stores and make off with items and cash from registers, police said.

The thieves then fled in a silver Kia Soul.

On Dec. 31, two burglaries were reported in the 4300 and 4500 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue at 5:25 a.m. and 5:40 a.m., police said.

Jan. 1, burglars struck again in the 600 and 700 block of East 47th Street at about 11:50 p.m. and 11:55 p.m., police said.

Tuesday, two more businesses were burglarized in the 200 block of East 35th Street and the 4200 block of South Cottage Grove shortly before 12:30 a.m., police said.

Police said the culprits were wearing hooded sweatshirts and skull caps.

Anyone with information should contact police.