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Harold's Chicken Owners Vow to Stay in Park Manor After Latest Burglary

By Wendell Hutson | July 24, 2014 7:54am
 The owners of a Park Manor Harold's Chicken restaurant say they have no plans to move out the neighborhood after a Tuesday burglary.
Park Manor Buildings
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PARK MANOR — In 27 years, a Park Manor Harold's Chicken restaurant has been burglarized three times, including the latest break-in on Tuesday, owners said.

But despite the loss of a laptop computer and a broken front window, the family-owned eatery at 407 E. 75th St. was back open Wednesday and the owners plan to keep it that way.

"I just get fed up sometimes with the things that go on around here. The stolen laptop was old but the front window is what I am really upset about the most," said Tracie Sterling, co-owner of the restaurant. "That cost us a few hundred dollars. I cannot believe that someone would go to that extreme to break inside a business that has been a part of the community for years."

According to Chicago Police, the restaurant was burglarized between 4-8 a.m. and sustained damaged to the front window, cash register, file cabinets and rear doors. No one was in custody as of Wednesday.

The window was replaced Wednesday and Sterling said security cameras were being installed.

Sterling said years ago tactical police officers would patrol 75th Street late at night and that helped reduce crime in the area.

"I wish those officers were still on the street late at night. I see them over around 79th and Cottage Grove" where there is another Harold's Chicken, she said. "But then again, that area is a little 'rough' so I understand why they're over there."

A CTA bus stop sits in front of Sterling's restaurant and she would like to see it moved.

"I would love to have that bus stop moved from in front of my door because people hang out all day at the stop and in the winter time they try to come inside [the restaurant] to wait on the bus," she said.

Three buildings west of Harold's Chicken was Food Basket, a convenience store at 401 E. 75th St. that caught fire March 3. Across the street from Food Basket, a Jan. 17 fire at 375 E. 75th St. consumed a Dollar & Up and a Cricket Wireless store.

Both cases were turned over to Chicago Police Bomb and Arson investigators, said Larry Langford, a Chicago Fire Department spokesman.

Both fires "were started by a human act," Langford said, "but we cannot determine if that is arson. That is up to the police to find out."

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