Owner speaks out after thieves break into popular Bronzeville coffee shop: I-TEAM EXCLUSIVE

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The owner of Sip & Savor is speaking out after he says thieves broke into his Chicago business.

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"I was upset, extremely upset, frustrated. Everything we had put together here and somebody just violated it," said Trez Pugh III, owner of the Sip & Savor coffee shop.

Pugh III spoke exclusively to ABC7's I-Team after he said thieves broke into his coffee shop on 47th Street and stole bottles of alcohol among other items.

Surveillance video shows someone with a cart coming in and taking items from the cooler.

In the video, the suspect leaves then two more people come in and take more items.

"It hurt. It really hurt," Pugh III said. "I work so hard to provide a safe space. I put everything I own into my business and in an instance, somebody almost took that away from me."

He said fortunately they are a cashless business, so no money was stolen. However, he says nearly $2,000 worth of items were taken.

"They took a lot of our high-end bourbons, they took vodka, they took tequila, cakes, muffins," he said. "I wanted all of the people in the neighborhood to get together under one roof in a classy, elegant, safe environment and share ideas. We do things for disabled vets, recovering addicts, the homeless."

The people in the Bronzeville community are angry, saying Pugh does a lot for the community.

"Stop trying to destroy our neighborhoods because it's your neighborhood too. Your grandma, your sister, and someone in your family might need this," neighbor Marilyn Sims said.

"Sip & Savor is a staple in the community," neighbor Dennis Thompson said. "So no, we can't take this. We can't allow this to go on without us doing something about it."

As Chicago police continue to investigate, the owner says he won't allow this break-in to break him.

To help support the business, the owner encourages everyone to stop by and have a cup of coffee.

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