Four masked burglars smashed their way into Angelo's Pizzeria on Chicago's Southwest Side early Wednesday, ripping through doors, raiding the registers, and cracking open a safe before getting away with thousands in cash and electronics. The owner said staff were sent home, and the restaurant stayed closed for the morning while they tallied the damage and missing gear.
The break-in at Angelo's Pizzeria, 4850 S. Pulaski Rd. in Archer Heights, unfolded in a matter of minutes. Surveillance video shows four men forcing their way inside between about 3:58 a.m. and 4:03 a.m. They broke through the front door and a second interior door, popped open both cash registers, and grabbed roughly $1,000, then forced open a safe that held about $5,000. The crew also scooped up a couple of laptops and a still camera, according to CBS Chicago.
A few blocks up Pulaski at La Michoacana Premium, 5160 S. Pulaski Rd., police say four people smashed a window, snatched cash boxes, and then took off in a black sedan. Chicago police had not immediately provided additional details on that hit, CBS Chicago reported.
Owner Adrian Zamudio said he got a phone call about 5:30 a.m. and rushed to the restaurant. He told CBS Chicago that from what he was hearing, "it looks like they hit a couple Italian restaurants." Zamudio said the burglars at Angelo's were dressed in hoodies, gloves, and masks, and that they fled in a stolen black Infiniti sedan.
Smash-and-Grab Pattern On Pulaski And Beyond
The smash-and-grab style of burglary, where crews shatter glass, yank out cash drawers, and disappear in minutes, has been popping up in neighborhoods across Chicago. Police say they are adjusting midnight-hour patrols in response, according to ABC7 Chicago.
For small restaurants like Angelo's, owners say the real gut punch often comes from repair costs and lost business hours on top of whatever gets taken from the till, tightening the screws on businesses already working with thin profit margins.
Angelo's website lists the pizzeria's Pulaski address, and Zamudio said he is not sure how long it will take to fully reopen, leaving workers and regulars waiting. Anyone with information about either burglary is urged to contact the Chicago police as the investigation continues.
