Police investigate small business burglaries in Third Lake, Illinois; theft at European Food & Gifts caught on surveillance video
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THIRD LAKE, Ill. (WLS) — An overnight crime spree in the north suburbs was quite a devastating blow to some small shops in the area.

ABC7 was told multiple businesses in Third Lake, Illinois were burglarized in the same area early Saturday morning, and one of the owners ABC7 talked to was shocked at how quick it all happened.

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Surveillance video showed the moment a group of masked offenders smash their way through the entrance of a European food and gift shop in Third Lake.

The owners of the business got a call from police early Saturday morning and saw the damage when they arrived.

Absolutely a quiet nice town, and you don’t think about it. We feel very safe.

Linas Tomaitis, European Food & Gifts owner

It’s a setback for the shop that has only been open for about a year and a half.

“It’s very frustrating being a small business in the area, everything counts,” said Linas Tomaitis, owner of European Food & Gifts. “We’re hardworking people working lots of hours, and have something like that, it’s just frustrating and sad.”

Tomaitis said he usually doesn’t have to think twice about protecting his shop in Third Lake as he says it’s a friendly community with little crime.

“Absolutely a quiet nice town, and you don’t think about it,” Tomaitis said. “We feel very safe.”

He did find some laughter in all of this when he realized what the offenders took from his store.

“They took ice cream and cash… they took the cash register together,” Tomaitis said.

SEE ALSO | Chicago police issue warning after over a dozen ATM thefts across city

The owners are hoping the video may help police find the offenders.

No one was in custody as local police continue to investigate.

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