Chicago City Wire

Gold Coast Exotic Motors’ Joe Perillo is blaming Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx for building a “network of thieves” through lax law enforcement policies.

Perillo’s Gold Coast location includes some of the world’s most high-end cars like Bentleys, Lamborghinis and Ferraris.

On Saturday, armed thieves conducted a smash-and-grab on his showroom floor in which they stole over a million dollars worth of luxury watches.

Perillo had just left and was visiting another location in Downers Grove when the smash-and-grab happened.

He has gained some renown after a passionate interview to Fox 32 in the aftermath of the theft.

“I said two words. 'Enough is enough' is how I started the interview. I've been bombarded by people all over the country. My emails are blowing up ... people that know people that I know are getting out, they feel sorry for me,” he told AM 560’s The Morning Answer.  

More than for himself, Perilllo said he feels bad for his residential neighbors who do not feel safe or protected on the city’s streets.

He said it is time to start a campaign.

“They want to take their kids out for a walk and are afraid,” he said. “People want to go to dinner and they don't know if they're going to get stuck up. This is the city of Chicago, a city that works OK and I'm just fed up with it and everyone is texting ‘enough is enough.’ So I'd like to start a movement. An 'Enough is enough' movement.”

Perrillo is the son of Italian immigrants. His father died when he was 13 and he lived a blue-collar life. He said he could have easily become a criminal.

“There were plenty of thieves in my neighborhood, and thugs, and my idols at the time were the thieves and the thugs,” he said. “So I could relate to these kids. I've lived it. I saw it. I would have been a thug. I went to the Army when I was 17 and it changed my life.”

He said the problem becomes more pronounced when the criminal behavior is not combatted in any way such as is happening in Chicago now.

Perrillo said there is no chance for positive development in the criminal world.

“When they get rid of that merchandise they stole they're going to have to go out and steal more merchandise, and they're going to bring a couple of friends with them and they're going to steal,” he said. “They are already closing Macy's and Neiman Marcus and how many other stores are going to get closed?”

Within a generation, the crime problem could become a cultural problem, Perrillo said.

“These kids go back to their neighborhoods and they become role models — they’re probably 17 or 18 years old,” he said. “Instead of going out and getting a job to get a car, to get it done they go out, steal a car and then they go back with that car to their neighborhood and all their friends look up to them. So we're building a network of thieves.”

Perillo said he voted for Lightfoot but will not make that mistake again. He blames her actions as mayor and Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s inaction for the criminal environment.

“Their legacy is going to be they ruined a great city if we don't turn this around,” Perillo said.

Perillo said he felt he was risking political pushback for speaking up about crime in the city, but felt he could not take it anymore.

“Someone's got to stand up and say something, enough is enough,” he said.  

To his surprise Perillo has seen a wave of positive feedback on his remarks.

Perrillo said he is not interested in moving his business elsewhere and instead wants to focus on cleaning up the community to make it safe again.

“I'm an optimistic person,” he said. “I like to work on win-win situations. I like to take losing situations and make (them) winning - I've done it my whole life. I started out a loser. I had nothing to lose, I had to work hard. You know, people look at me and think I just was born with a silver spoon; we were broke.”  

“Magnificent Mile no more,” a headline for The Daily Mail recently read. The British tabloid noted uncontrollable shoplifting has blighted parts of the city’s famed shopping thoroughfare.

After State's Attorney Kim Foxx sought to only prosecute shoplifting over $1,000 in 2016 shoplifting has become an increasing problem with some retailers shutting down entirely.

Gangs of shoplifters regularly clean store shelves.

However, instead of supporting business, Lighfoot last week blamed retailers for not protecting themselves.

"I am disappointed that they are not doing more to take safety and make it a priority. We still have retailers that won’t institute plans like having a security officers in the store. Making sure cameras are actually operational,” Lightfoot said at a press conference.

Perrillo pushed back on that notion.

“What would my security guards have done? My people here, my people could have protected themselves. We stand down. What are we going to do? If a security guard shot one of these people. I'd probably lose my license. I'd probably be in court. I'd get sued. So you stand down and you watch him rob you, right? This is disgusting,” he said.  

Fraternal Order of Police President John Cantanzara, Jr. has announced he is running for Chicago Mayor against Lightfoot in spring 2023.