Amid Crime Surge, Bucktown Store Owner Hands Out Pepper Spray
(CBS) – A Bucktown store owner -- worried about crime in his neighborhood -- gives away pepper spray after being told he couldn't sell it.
The response from the community came as a complete surprise. CBS 2's Charlie De Mar reports.
Professional dog walker Julianne De'Chaump says she is outside most of her days. She's never without bags, a leash and pepper spray.
"It does give you a chance," she says.
She bought the pepper spray at the UPS store on Milwaukee Avenue.
Store owner Tom Bellino says he stocked the product with young moms and nannies in mind.
That was after hearing stories about people being attacked and various incidents on the 606 trail. It was a big seller, but when Bellino tried ordering more – no luck.
UPS wouldn't let him sell the spray.
So, he decided to give it away.
"You can't make money at everything you do. You've got to give back sometimes," Bellino says.
Chicago crime stats for Bucktown this year show 60 robberies, 59 assaults, 4 criminal sexual assaults and 43 reported batteries on the sidewalk or alley.
"I appreciate the store doing that for us," De'Chaump says.
Within hours of announcing the free pepper spray online, Bellino says they were all claimed.
He says he hopes to give out more in the future.
