Brown Sugar Bakery, neighboring business broken into on South Side, Chicago police say

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Broken glass and damaged property were left behind after early morning break-ins at two businesses on 75th Street on Chicago's South Side.

Brown Sugar Bakery, in the 300 block of East 75th Street, was among the businesses targeted. The business has operated for nearly 25 years and has previously been profiled by ABC7. Then-Vice President Kamala Harris also visited the business, in 2021.

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"It's basically a very sad and violated feeling," Owner Stephanie Hart said.

According to surveillance video captured by a camera across the street, four thieves arrived in a white sedan shortly before 4 a.m. The video shows the group leaving with an empty cash register after breaking a front window at the bakery.

"Businesses don't leave money in the cash registers, so you just cost us money tearing up our registers," Hart said. "Thank goodness they didn't get away with sweet treats because then I had to throw my entire stock out."

After the break-in at Brown Sugar Bakery, the thieves smashed another window at the neighboring business, Stylez Caribbean Roots Bar. The business sells herbs and other wellness products.

Although the burglars entered the store, the owner said they left without taking anything. However, expensive equipment was damaged during the break-in.

"They're really hurting people, and they're hurting families. They're hurting business owners, and they're not getting really... they're not really accomplishing nothing," said William Roland, owner of Stylez Caribbean Roots Bar.

Surveillance video shows the suspects driving away. Seconds later, police arrived at the scene.

For Hart and other longtime small business owners, such burglaries impact the entire neighborhood.

"The money that comes in my bakery comes from my community, and it churns out into the community," Hart said. "The people that work here, they're your cousins, y'all."

Business owners and community members along 75th Street are planning to meet to discuss strategies in response to the break-ins.

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