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In a bold and swift heist, a Bridgeport Mexican restaurant was the target of a burglary that unfolded in just two minutes, all caught on surveillance cameras.
The assailants set their sights on the establishment’s ATM, escaping with approximately $4,000 in cash.
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Leticia Navarro, the owner of Taqueria San Jose, recounted to ABC7 her helplessness as she watched the events unfold live through her surveillance system following a call from the Chicago police, even as the theft was ongoing.
The entire incident transpired in a matter of moments. Surveillance footage revealed a dark-colored SUV arriving at the restaurant, located in the 3100 block of South Halsted Street, at precisely 5:34 a.m. Within a minute, at 5:35 a.m., three burglars had broken in, disconnected the ATM, and wheeled it out the front door. By 5:36 a.m., the machine was loaded into their vehicle, and they sped away.
During an interview with ABC7 conducted in Spanish, Navarro mentioned that a passerby had called 911, leading to the timely alert from the police.
“I ran to the cameras and saw them leaving,” Navarro said. “I was very scared. Thank God it happened when no one was there.”
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Navarro said the restaurant, which closes at 2 a.m., usually still has people cleaning up until around 3:30 a.m.
“I’ve had this business for 20 years, here in Bridgeport,” said Navarro said, whose restaurant is just steps from CPD’s District 9.
The theft happened a day after CPD put out an alert in response to two other recent ATM thefts in the 9th District, including one at the Shell gas station at 35th and Damen just Saturday.
While the vehicle and the number of people involved appears to differ, like the crime Sunday morning, the thieves all struck in the 5 a.m. hour.
Chicago police have not said if they believe this latest ATM theft is connected to the one on Saturday. The investigation is still ongoing.
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