Get All Access for $5/mo

Police Issue Warning After Man's Car Is Stolen at Costco The incident occurred in Chicago earlier this week and is one of a string of recent carjackings at Costco gas stations.

By Emily Rella Edited by Jessica Thomas

Key Takeaways

  • A Chicago-area man was carjacked while fueling up at a local Costco.
  • He injured his leg trying to stop the thief and was hospitalized.

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Costco shoppers, beware!

A man who was filling his car with gas at a Chicago-area Costco was the victim of a carjacking incident on Wednesday. He was injured during the incident.

The man was adding fuel to a Mercedes-Benz sedan in broad daylight when a man in a ski mask and black clothing walked toward the vehicle, sat in the driver's seat, started the car and drove away.

Related: Costco Members Have an Exclusive New Perk

Desperate to stop the thievery, the man who owned the vehicle tried to jump in through the passenger side door. He then fell, injured his leg and was taken to Glenbrook Hospital for treatment.

Neither the criminal nor the car have been located. The incident prompted local police to issue a warning on social media.

"HIDE your belongings. LOCK your car. TAKE your keys (FOBS)," the post says. "PLEASE, Lock your car and REMOVE keyfobs from your parked cars."

Last month, a woman named Niketa Patel was carjacked while filling up her tank at a different Chicago-area Costco.

Related: Why Costco's Avoided Major Retail Theft Unlike Target, Walmart

"I just saw that somebody jumped in my car," she told local outlet NBC 5. "He has a ski mask on. So, I was holding the driver's side door, and I was waving my head, don't do it. But that guy, he wasn't scared."

It's not clear if the two situations are connected, but the Costco where Patel's car was stolen was the scene of three car thefts and two attempted carjackings between July and September.

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Science & Technology

Use This Framework to Successfully Integrate AI Into Your Business Operations

Here's how to ensure both innovation and compliance when using AI in your organization.

Growing a Business

Why Business Owners Should Streamline Their Operations Now for Success in 2025

As the holiday season and year-end approach, business owners face heightened operational demands, from inventory management to spend control. By streamlining these processes and partnering with flexible suppliers, businesses can maintain efficiency, meet customer needs and focus on growth while navigating this busy period.

Growing a Business

5 Effective Strategies to Boost Your Business's Online Presence

Boosting your online presence in 2025 is the key to success for businesses looking to grow. Working on your branding and reputation management is important to drive more sales and improve conversion.

Marketing

He Pitched His First Business at 12 and Sold a Company for 8 Figures When He Was 23. Here's This Gen Z Marketing Expert's Next Big Move.

Griffin Haddrill built a marketing empire working with artists like Justin Bieber and Lil Nas X. Learn how he tapped into Gen Z's digital culture and turned viral campaigns into a business model.

Leadership

Why Your AI Strategy Will Fail Without the Right Talent in Place

Using fractional AI experts through specialized platforms allows companies to access top talent cost-effectively, drive innovation and scale agile strategies for growth.