Authorities are warning businesses after a string of bizarre burglaries in Chicago’s South Shore.
Robbers are literally tearing holes through walls to make their way into storefronts in the area, according to police.
Sal Asmar, the owner of Red Snapper in the 5200 block of West Madison Avenue, was the target of one of the robberies when two suspects broke into his restaurant earlier this month.
Store surveillance video captures more than two hours of the men in the act, smashing their way through the kitchen and office with a crowbar and mangling the safe along the way.
The criminals made off with just a few hundred dollars in cash, but caused thousands in damages.
“They stole our computers for our registers,” Asmar said. “Broke the safe [trying to] get in there.”
When they were finished, the thieves literally broke down the wall to get to Metro PCS, the adjoining cell phone shop.
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“They probably used a sledge hammer or a saw to cut [through the wall],” said Metro PCS employee Javar Orange.
Orange admits he's baffled as to why the suspects didn't take hundreds of dollars’ worth of cell phones and accessories after taking such pains to break in.
“They tore the cabinets down, a drawer is missing,” Orange said. “[But] the only thing they took was the money; they didn't take any phones or accessories.”
Red Snapper and Metro PCS are just two of the five reported South Shore burglaries since March.
Both businesses have been robbed by different suspects in April and June as well, which has Sal Asmar considering a move.
“I’m feeling like this isn’t an area we want to stay in,” Asmar said.
The break-ins were reported at the following time and dates, according to police:
• 8100 block of South Stony Island Avenue on March 14 at about 7 p.m.
• 8100 block of South Stony Island Avenue on between 11 p.m. on March 14 and 11 a.m. on March 16
• 1600 block of East 87th Street on July 22 at about 1:30 a.m.
• 2400 block of east 75th street on Aug. 7 at about 8 p.m.
• 1300 block of east 87th street on Aug. 18 at about 5:00 a.m.
As of Tuesday evening police did not have any suspects in custody.
