Burglar caught on camera breaking into McKinley Park boutique; at least 4 other businesses hit: CPD

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A business break-in on the city's Southwest Side was captured on surveillance video.

The video shows a man breaking a window at The R.O.C.K. Exchange Resale Boutique on Archer Avenue near 35th Street early Friday morning.

The business owner is now in tears over the break-in, not because of the damage done to her shop, but the damage done to the people she serves.

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In the video, the man can be seen entering the McKinley Park business through the broken window. Then, a short time later, he emerges through the front door, carrying what appears to be merchandise.

The idea behind the unique Southwest side clothing boutique came to Delilah Abu in a dream.

"R.O.C.K. stands for 'Restoring our community kindly,'" Abu said.

Over the past years, the boutique on 35th and Archer that started as a side project became a passion for the full-time youth mentor. She said the mission is not just about making clothes affordable for those in need, but doing so with dignity.

"It's a resale shop that designed for the community, where clothes are affordable for the community," Abu said.

Last Friday, that mission was set back by a burglar who shattered more than just a window, but she said he smashed a part of that dream.

"It breaks my heart because... I built this business from the ground up," Abu said.

Abu said the thief walked away with thousands of dollars worth of items from the store. It happened a week before the shop's big prom dress giveaway.

For Abu, this loss wasn't about a blow to her business, but a gut punch to the community she serves. Some of the items taken were set aside as part of a raffle to help fund part of that giveaway.

Investigators are now looking for the man seen on surveillance video.

Chicago police said Abu's shop was one of several businesses hit in a larger burglary crime spree in other Southwest side communities like Brighton Park, Back of the Yard and Bridgeport neighborhoods.

"I pray that whoever did this that he has an encounter with God that he knows that the store that he hit is designed for the community and that this store," Abu said. "It's a pillar here."

So far, no one is in custody for the break-in, which was part of a larger burglary spree over the past week, police said.

The five burglaries happened at the following locations and times:

• 4000-block of South Western Avenue on April 16 at 4:15 a.m.


• 3500-block of South Archer Avenue on April 18 sometime between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m.


• 3300-block of South Archer Avenue on April 18 at 3:15 a.m.


• 1700-block of West 47th Street on April 18 at 4:29 a.m.


• 3500-block of South Halsted St on April 19 at 4:34 a.m.

Police described the suspect as a man between 25 and 40 years old. He is between 5-foot-8 and 6-foot-1 and weighs between 160 and 220 pounds.

He has been seen wearing a black face mask, a blue jacket, a green hooded sweatshirt, a white shirt tan pants or black pants with red stripe, black boots and black gloves.

Police asked anyone with information to call them at 312-747-8384 or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com and use reference # P25-1-034.

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