Thieves pull gun on Edison Park deli owner as he catches them in the act

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Thieves pulled a gun on a Northwest Side deli owner when he caught them in the act on Saturday morning, his wife and Chicago police said.

The co-owner of Tony's Italian Deli & Subs told ABC7 that her 68-year-old husband arrived at their Edison Park shop in the 6700-block of North Northwest Highway around 5 a.m. unaware of the break-in going on.

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Police said he entered through the back, and he was met by three suspects who were stealing property. One of them took out a gun.

The man's wife said that suspect held a gun to her husband's head.

"We're grateful. It wasn't even about what they would've taken money wise, it was about my husband with a gun pointed at his head," she said. "Thank God he's safe, and that's what really matters for us. He had an angel looking over him."

The business' security camera captured the criminals using a hammer to break through the glass of the store's front doors. They could be seen stealing two cash registers, containing no more than $100.

After turning the alarm off, the co-owner says her husband walked in on the armed thieves rifling through a desk in the store's office.

"One of them turns around and says 'shut the **** up' and puts a gun to his forehead," she said. "My husband put his hands up, says 'Okay, okay, okay.'"

Security cameras footage showed the suspects running away and fleeing in a dark-colored sedan. Police later found the vehicle and the stolen cash registers on the city's South Side.

No injuries were reported. No one is in custody, and area detectives are investigating.

"These are people. I've known them for a long, long time," friend and customer Barry Paoli said. "It's just unfortunate."

Meanwhile, when news got out about the incident, the community pulled together to support the owners, who say they have never been robbed before.

Customers flocked to the store, and someone even anonymously provided thousands of dollars needed to repair damage to the front doors.

"They've been here for 47 years," Edison Park Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Amanda Harris said. "They are staple in our neighborhood, so something like this hits home too hard."

Detectives only have a vague description of the armed burglars.

Investigators say there was another armed burglary nearby. Thankfully no one was hurt.

Police are still trying to figure out if the two crimes are linked in any way and if the same crew is responsible

No one is in custody, and area detectives are investigating.

Police did not immediately provide further information.

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