Rogers Park burglaries have business owners concerned

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A thief has targeted several Rogers Park businesses and that has some owners considering a move.

The burglaries happened on North Clark Street.

The China Hut restaurant is open for business just hours after it was burglarized.

"He was walking back and forth looking for stuff. He opened all the drawers," said Marisol Cisneros/China Hut employee.

The restaurant's security cameras captured the would-be burglar in the alley behind the business only minutes before he allegedly broke into the eatery.

The thief can be seen rifling through the kitchen area before taking off with a cash register drawer containing only loose change.

It's the latest of several burglaries reported in the Far North Side neighborhood that have Chicago police warning commercial establishments in Rogers Park to be on alert.

The suspect in the video appears to be wearing a black do-rag, white cap, a hooded jacket and light-colored pants.

According to the community alert issued by police, at least two neighborhood businesses have reported being burglarized this week.

Police say the break-ins took place during the overnight hours between Tuesday and Wednesday in the 7100-block of North Clark Street.

In each case, the burglar pried open a back door to get into the business.

That's how other business owners say the suspect got into a furniture store and the basements of several other businesses that were ripped off.

The Growling Rabbit Cafe was already moving this summer from Rogers Park to a bigger location in Edgewater. But owner Laura Soncrant says after being burglarized twice since October, moving her brunch spot may be right on time.