Smash-and-grab burglar strikes Loop cell-phone store, witnesses say

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A thief smashed the windows of a cell-phone store just steps away from the ABC7 Eyewitness News studio in Chicago's Loop, witnesses said.

Jesse Salazar, who witnessed the incident, said he saw a man running out of the AT&T store near North State and East Randolph streets.

"Originally I was standing outside ABC7 studios and I saw out of the corner of my eye a man ran out of the building. I saw shattered glass outside of the building as well as inside as well as items knocked over," Salazar said.

Salazar said he talked to another witness, who said the man who ran out of the store was carrying a backpack full of cell phones.

Police are investigating.

At this point, police do not know if the break-in is related to four smash-and-grab burglaries that occurred Tuesday morning in the city's South Loop.

One of the incidents was caught on surveillance at the South Loop Market. The thief got away with a cashbox that had $300 inside.

Two other businesses were hit near South Wabash Avenue and East Cermak Road and a clothing store on South Michigan Avenue was targeted.