THIRD LAKE, Ill. (WLS) — An overnight crime spree in the north suburbs was quite a devastating blow to some small shops in the area.
ABC7 reported that several businesses in Third Lake, Illinois, experienced break-ins early Saturday morning. One of the business owners expressed surprise at how swiftly the incidents occurred.
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Surveillance video showed the moment a group of masked offenders smash their way through the entrance of a European food and gift shop in Third Lake.
The owners of the business got a call from police early Saturday morning and saw the damage when they arrived.
Absolutely a quiet nice town, and you don’t think about it. We feel very safe.
Linas Tomaitis, European Food & Gifts owner
It’s a setback for the shop that has only been open for about a year and a half.
Linas Tomaitis, the owner of European Food & Gifts, shared, “As a small business owner in this area, every loss matters. We put in long hours and work hard, so experiencing something like this is both frustrating and disheartening.”
Tomaitis said he usually doesn’t have to think twice about protecting his shop in Third Lake as he says it’s a friendly community with little crime.
“Absolutely a quiet nice town, and you don’t think about it,” Tomaitis said. “We feel very safe.”
He did find some laughter in all of this when he realized what the offenders took from his store.
“They took ice cream and cash… they took the cash register together,” Tomaitis said.
The owners are hoping the video may help police find the offenders.
No one was in custody as local police continue to investigate.
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