NORTH CENTER — Police are urging business owners to be on alert after two recent arson fires at cannabis businesses in Jefferson Park and North Center.

According to a business alert issued by police Thursday, the first fire occurred about 3:15 a.m. April 19 at Cannabist Dispensary in Jefferson Park, and the second fire was set about 3:50 a.m. Sunday at Chicago Cannabis Company in North Center.

In both incidents, a man wearing a face mask, black hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants, black gym shoes and a black fanny pack used a hammer to break the front windows of the shops, lit a Molotov cocktail and threw it inside the businesses, police said.

In the fire at Cannabist Dispensary, 4758 N. Milwaukee Ave., security footage showed a man running south on Milwaukee Avenue after throwing a flaming object into the store, according to a police report obtained by Block Club.

The fire at Cannabist comes just three weeks after a driver crashed a car through the dispensary’s front window. The building’s lobby and security checkpoint station were damaged during the March 26 crash, but nothing was reported stolen and the dispensary reopened a few days later. Police have made no arrests in that incident as of Friday.

Cannabis is temporarily closed after the fire, according to its website. A Cannabist spokesperson encouraged customers to visit the Villa Park location at 133 Roosevelt Road.

The Sunday fire occurred at Chicago Cannabis Company, 4009 N. Damen Ave., in North Center. The business is currently open, co-owner Tom Gliszewski said in an email to Block Club.

Any information about the incidents can contact Chicago Police at 312-746-7618 or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com.

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