CHICAGO (WLS) — In the quiet early hours, chaos erupted on Chicago’s South Side as shattered glass and wreckage stained the aftermath of break-ins at two businesses along 75th Street.
Among those struck was Brown Sugar Bakery, nestled in the 300 block of East 75th Street. This local staple, cherished by the community for more than two decades, has gained recognition, even drawing a visit from Vice President Kamala Harris in 2021.
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“Experiencing something like this leaves you feeling devastated and invaded,” expressed owner Stephanie Hart, reflecting on the incident.
Surveillance footage captured the crime in progress. Recorded from a camera positioned across the street, the video reveals four individuals pulling up in a white sedan just before dawn. The clip shows them smashing through the bakery’s front window and fleeing with an empty cash register.
“It’s pointless,” Hart stated, her voice tinged with frustration. “No money is kept in the registers overnight, so all they did was cause us financial harm by destroying them. Thankfully, they didn’t manage to grab any baked goods. Otherwise, we’d have been forced to discard everything.”
After the break-in at Brown Sugar Bakery, the thieves smashed another window at the neighboring business, Stylez Caribbean Roots Bar. The business sells herbs and other wellness products.
Although the burglars entered the store, the owner said they left without taking anything. However, expensive equipment was damaged during the break-in.
“They’re really hurting people, and they’re hurting families. They’re hurting business owners, and they’re not getting really… they’re not really accomplishing nothing,” said William Roland, owner of Stylez Caribbean Roots Bar.
Surveillance video shows the suspects driving away. Seconds later, police arrived at the scene.
For Hart and other longtime small business owners, such burglaries impact the entire neighborhood.
“The money that comes in my bakery comes from my community, and it churns out into the community,” Hart said. “The people that work here, they’re your cousins, y’all.”
Business owners and community members along 75th Street are planning to meet to discuss strategies in response to the break-ins.
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