BUCKTOWN — Early Wednesday, a plate glass window was smashed in at The StopAlong, a Bucktown pizzeria across from Ipsento 606 coffee shop, which had seen a similar style break-in on Tuesday morning.
"It sucks it was [Ipsento] yesterday and now us today. It seems less than coincidental," said Taylor Hammond, owner of The StopAlong at 1812 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Hammond shared photos of the shards of glass, as well as what appears to be "a little smudge of blood" on the window trim.
"They went into the bathroom. Somehow they cut themselves getting in," Hammond said.
Hammond praised local police who "arrived quickly" to the scene after a security alarm went off, which prompted an employee at a neighboring fitness studio, Chi50, who was arriving to work, to call 911.
"She saw a van idling in the alley and the alarm going and called police," Hammond said, saying that the quick thinking on the part of his business neighbor could have curtailed the thief or thieves.
Officer Laura Amezaga, a Chicago Police spokeswoman, said that a burglary had occurred around 5:15 a.m. Wednesday.
Hammond says that it appeared that only a few bottles of liquor were missing, and the cash register and "bolted-down safe" were both intact, with nothing taken.
"We came out pretty okay other than a big broken window and a cold restaurant with all my heat escaping," Hammond said.
The burglars "broke the window, came in through the front and the alarm went off and they left through the back, that's what we are guessing," said Hammond. "Stuff was moved around in different places."
Hammond said Wednesday morning he was working on getting the glass door repaired and assured customers that The StopAlong will be open for business, including for a fundraiser with Pritzker School tonight.
After Ipsento was burglarized on Tuesday and saw its cash safe taken as well as bikes and an iPad, Hammond said he brought complimentary pizza to the workers at the coffee shop. On Wednesday morning, Ipsento returned the favor by bringing coffee and doughnuts to Hammond as he met with detectives.
"Good neighbors coming together," Hammond said.
Amezaga said the burglary is part of an "ongoing investigation" and anyone with tips should call Area North Detectives at 312-744-8445.
