Overview
- Four masked men broke Brown Sugar Bakery’s front window shortly before 3 a.m. Tuesday, climbed through the glass, took the cash register and fled westbound in a gray sedan.
- Chicago police and Area One detectives say the burglary is part of a series of early-morning break-ins that also struck businesses on East Hyde Park Boulevard, and no suspects are in custody.
- Owner Stephanie Hart said the stolen point-of-sale components contained no cash and that the latest repairs will cost about $1,000 for glass, $1,800 to replace the register and a $250 expedition fee.
- Neighbors, clergy and local officials rallied to support the shop after the break-in, including Illinois state Sen. Elgie Sims buying 206 slices of cake, and Hart said she will keep the bakery on 75th Street.
- Hart plans to make the bakery cashless and install artist-painted rolling security shutters as immediate steps to reduce repeat victimization and protect the corridor’s ongoing small-business revival.