ALSIP, Ill. (WGN) – Some businesses have alarms, some have surveillance, but a handful of businesses in Alsip are thinking about adding fog to the mix.

A machine pumps out a cluster of fog and the near odorless thick plume blankets a room in a matter of seconds, dampening the senses of anyone that might be inside.

It’s comparable to a white out that drivers might experience on the road, but in this case it could be what a crook experiences when breaking into a business.

Mike Egel of Density USA said sales of their high-powered security fogging system have increased about 200% in the last three years.

“We use a pump-driven system and it’s water and glycol, so there’s no residue. There’s nothing to clean up. It’ll sit in there for about an hour,”” Egel said.

The company is part of a handful of security fog manufacturers who have seen business booming due to the never ending possibility of smash-and-grab crimes.

“We’re in about 17 states here in the U.S. We’ve got three provinces in Canada where we’ve got machines,” Egel said.

Alsip’s Southsides bar knows all too well about smash-and-grabs. Its owner asked not to go on camera, but said a window and door to the bar were broken into about three weeks ago.

At least four suspects targeted the five gaming machines inside the bar. The suspects were in and out in eight to 10 minutes and caused hundreds of dollars in damage.

The business plans to get the fog deterrent in the near future.

Lower model prices start at a couple thousand dollars.

Alsip Mayor John Ryan said with the approval of the fire department, Alsip is happy to offer permits to interested businesses. He estimates a handful are considering hardening their defenses with the security vapor deterrent.

“We want to support these businesses. The last thing we want to do is ignore what they need,” Ryan said.

The security measure is not the right fit for all businesses, but the company said it’s been in place for years in places like Italy, adding the Italian insurance industry claims it’s far more effective than alarms and cameras alone.

“This is no different than theater smoke except on steroids, compared to smoke from a fire,” Alsip Fire Chief Thomas Styczynski said.