A popular Chatham neighborhood bakery was targeted in an early-morning break-in, according to Chicago police.
Police said multiple unidentified offenders entered Brown Sugar Bakery at 328 E. 75th St. around 4 a.m. Wednesday after shattering its front glass window.
The bandits left the bakery’s broken window, took the cash register and fled in a white vehicle parked in front of the store, police said. No injuries were reported and the break-in was being investigated by Wentworth Area (Area 1) detectives.
Police said one of the burglars who broke into Brown Sugar Bakery also damaged a window of neighboring business, Stylez Caribbean Snack Shop, a restaurant that sells herbs and wellness products. Police said nothing was missing from that store.
In a video posted to Instagram Thursday afternoon, Stephanie Hart, owner of Brown Sugar Bakery, thanked the community for standing with the business.
She said a community gathering was planned at Soul Veg City on 75th Street to regroup after the break-in, the third time Brown Sugar Bakery has been targeted in recent years. There is a need for solutions to address the climbing number of break-ins and burglaries in the Greater Grand Crossing area, Hart said.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Hart said in the video. “I also want to say thank you to this 3rd District, those two cops were really, really good and they came really, really fast.”
Hart said East 75th Street is a thriving enclave for Black businesses — Lem’s Bar-B-Q, Mabe’s Sandwich Shop, Boss Shine & Repair Shop and several others — and despite the setbacks, “we don’t stop.”
Open for more than 24 years, Brown Sugar Bakery is widely known for its legendary Southern-style caramel cake.
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In her video, Hart said she got up at 4 a.m. Thursday to get to the gym, despite a rough night.
“You gotta keep getting up,” she said.