Police: Burglars Target Three North Side Restaurants
CHICAGO (CBS) -- It was a busy weekend for a pair of burglars targeting restaurants on the North Side.
At least three were hit: One in the 2500 block of North Lincoln, another in the 2400 block of North Clark and a third in the 3100 block of North Broadway.
CBS 2's Mai Martinez reports the spree ended at the restaurant when an alert employee heard some strange noises at the front door and went to check it out, catching the would be burglar in the act.
Anastacio Mercado still can't believe he caught a man breaking into the at the New Tokyo restaurant where he works. He said he say him and said, "Hey, what happened?"
The burglar was so startled, Mercado says he dropped the screwdriver he was using to pry the door open and ran off empty handed. It happened at 9:50 Saturday morning.
According to Chicago police the burglar got away in a white work van, and his accomplice drove off in a blue or green van.
The duo is suspected in at least two other restaurant break-ins, including one at Ponzu Japanese cuisine.
The forced-in door was discovered as employees arrived for work Saturday morning. The cash register was cut in open by what the manager believes was a power tool.
"He took the cash register to the back. He plugged in the saw machine and he did what he did," said Salim Benchaib.
Benchaib says he only got away with $5-$6, but says the damage will cost about $400 to repair. He also says they will now leave the cash register open overnight so would-be thieves will see there's no cash in it.
