SUV slams into West Englewood furniture store

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Two South Side businesses were damaged after the driver of an SUV went on a wild ride Sunday night.

Witnesses said the driver was in the Food 4 Less parking lot near 70th Street and Ashland Avenue in the West Englewood neighborhood and apparently crashed into the shopping cart holder hit a tree and jumped the curb. The driver then smashed into the Chatham Furniture and More store at about 10:15 p.m., police said.

"The car just took off and hit this red car and he started moving the red car, then hit another truck that was over there and then he went over the brick divided curb right there and knocked the fence down and went right through the furniture store," said witness Ronald Richmond.

The furniture store was heavily damaged and the front had to be boarded up. Workers were busy Monday morning taking out damaged furniture so that the store could open.

The store manager said people came in off the street and stole multiple televisions.

"The cops didn't let anyone in until the vehicle was cleared out and once we were able to go in we did just get a brief inventory, around 15 TVs already taken," said Fred Batroukh, said store manager Fred Batroukh.

The owners believe the crash may have been a set-up and said someone even tried breaking into the back door a week ago.

"Honestly, I am still in shock about it," Batroukh said.

Chicago police are investigating the crash but could not confirm that items were taken from the store.

The driver was cited for having a revoked license, failure to reduce speed and driving without insurance. No injuries were reported.