CHICAGO (WLS) — For the first 35 years it was open, Franco’s had no crime. But over the last two years, the Bridgeport restaurant has been broken into three times.
A security camera outside the building captured images of a man walking up to the back door of the restaurant around 11:40 a.m. Sunday. Moments later, the suspect kicked down the door and got into the restaurant. Other cameras inside captured images of the man, who was wearing a mask and gloves, as he walked through the bar, going through the liquor.
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“He came in like he was thirsty and wanted a drink. He found some liquor and he left with liquor,” said Frank Ruffalo, the owner of Franco’s.
He grabbed a couple bottles in the bar, but then found his way into the basement, where he found cases of vodka.
Ruffalo says the damage that the suspect caused to the business will cost more money than the value of what he got away with.
It is the third time in the last couple of years that a thief has broken into the restaurant. And it happened just weeks after a thief broke into Il Culaccino, another restaurant Ruffalo owns in the South Loop.
A security camera in that restaurant shows the suspect going through the cash register. He ended up getting away with a small amount of cash, but that did little to ease the headache and stress Ruffalo has to deal with.
“You can’t keep taking these losses. Our margins are very slim. It’s dimes and pennies, and when this happens, it’s a whole week’s profit. Two weeks. You never really know,” Ruffalo said.
Ruffalo says unfortunately, much of the cost gets passed on to the customers. And with high price of nearly everything already, fewer people are dining out these days. It is a frustrating situation. Ruffalo says he is glad that at least no one was inside the restaurant when the suspect broke in, so no one was hurt. But he is worried about the future.
“Now, it just seems like the businesses are meant to keep soaking it up and taking the hit. Eventually, these businesses are not going to be here anymore,” Ruffalo said.
Ruffalo says he would like to catch whoever is responsible for the break-ins. He says police have been responsive and helpful, but he is not optimistic they will be able to find anyone.
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