CHICAGO (WLS) — For its first 35 years, Franco’s restaurant in Bridgeport enjoyed a crime-free existence. However, in the past two years, it has been targeted by burglars three times.

In the latest incident, security footage from outside the establishment captured a man approaching the rear entrance around 11:40 a.m. on Sunday. Shortly thereafter, the individual forcefully kicked open the door, gaining access to the interior. Inside, surveillance cameras recorded the masked and gloved intruder as he wandered through the bar area, examining the stock of liquor.

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“It was as if he was parched and in search of a drink. He took some liquor and left,” recounted Frank Ruffalo, the proprietor of Franco’s.

The suspect initially snatched a few bottles from the bar, but his discovery of the basement led him to cases of vodka.

Ruffalo lamented that the damage inflicted by the intruder will cost more to repair than the value of the stolen goods.

It is the third time in the last couple of years that a thief has broken into the restaurant. And it happened just weeks after a thief broke into Il Culaccino, another restaurant Ruffalo owns in the South Loop.

A security camera in that restaurant shows the suspect going through the cash register. He ended up getting away with a small amount of cash, but that did little to ease the headache and stress Ruffalo has to deal with.

“You can’t keep taking these losses. Our margins are very slim. It’s dimes and pennies, and when this happens, it’s a whole week’s profit. Two weeks. You never really know,” Ruffalo said.

Ruffalo says unfortunately, much of the cost gets passed on to the customers. And with high price of nearly everything already, fewer people are dining out these days. It is a frustrating situation. Ruffalo says he is glad that at least no one was inside the restaurant when the suspect broke in, so no one was hurt. But he is worried about the future.

“Now, it just seems like the businesses are meant to keep soaking it up and taking the hit. Eventually, these businesses are not going to be here anymore,” Ruffalo said.

Ruffalo says he would like to catch whoever is responsible for the break-ins. He says police have been responsive and helpful, but he is not optimistic they will be able to find anyone.

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