4 smash van into Abt Electronics store, fail to grab anything

GLENVIEW, Ill. (WLS) -- Normally this would be called a smash-and-grab, but these would-be robbers never got a chance to grab.

On Tuesday at 5:38 a.m., two vans - one full-size and one minivan - pulled into Abt Electronics' parking lot at 1200 Milwaukee Avenue in Glenview. Police say four offenders were inside the two vehicles.

One person drove the full-size van into the building through an exterior and interior set of glass doors. Once the doors were breached, all four ran into the store where they were confronted by employees.

"They drove the vehicle right into the merchandise pickup department," Michael Lopez, Abt security, said. "As soon as they saw some of the people who work in the facility they just turned around and took off."

The suspects were in the store for less than a minute, Lopez said.

"What are you going to grab in here anyway, a microwave or a dishwasher?" Sharam Tousi, Abt customer, said.

The offenders fled without any merchandise in the minivan.

"We have this place locked down like Fort Knox. We have 300 cameras, security 24 hours a day. They tried, but they weren't going to get anything," Lopez said.

The van used to break into the building was stolen, police said.

Abt was open for regular business Tuesday.

Just last week, Chicago police said they busted a smash-and-grab ring responsible for 40 burglaries in which $2 million worth of merchandise was taken.