CHICAGO — Several people burglarized St. Alfred and Chrome Industries — two businesses next door to each other in Wicker Park early Tuesday, the victims and police said.
At 2:30 a.m., three cars full of people drove to the 1500 block of North Milwaukee Avenue, police said. They forced their way into two adjacent businesses and stole items from the stores. No injuries were reported.
No one was in custody.
"At this point we are just trying to take stock of what's going on. They broke in by smashing the front window and front door. We have security footage and are reviewing it," said Frank DiGiovanni, longtime manager of St. Alfred, a street wear apparel and shoe store at 1531 N. Milwaukee Ave.
DiGiovanni said the store was "not in chaos" when he came into work on Tuesday.
"It was a smash and grab, they grabbed what they could. They did get a decent amount of inventory. At the end of the day, it's just shoes and clothes. It's not the end of the world," DiGiovanni said.
St. Alfred opened in 2005 and has long attracted sneaker fans, who've been known to form lines outside the door and camp out overnight for the chance to buy just-released shoes.
DiGiovanni said it was the store's first robbery.
A worker at Chrome Industries, 1529 N. Milwaukee Ave., said the thieves took clothes and messenger bags.
"We're just happy no one got hurt," the worker said.
No further information was immediately available.
