Burglar in crime-ridden Chicago targets CASHLESS pizzeria after ignoring sign saying venue takes cards only, then stealing frame with ‘lucky’ $20s and $50s encased inside
- A Chicago pizzeria was burgled despite posting signs that the business does not keep cash on the premises
- Surveillance footage showed the thief breaking through the front door, searching the restaurant for cash and stealing a framed display of signed bills
- Owner, George Bumbaris, said that the framed display had sentimental value and was never meant to be spent
- The restaurant was opened during the pandemic and was been forced to implement a cards-only policy due to recent crime in the area
A Chicago pizzeria was broken into by a thief in search of a stash of cash despite the joint stating clearly in a sign that the entire restaurant is cashless.
Surveillance cameras captured the entire incident as George’s Deep Dish was smashed into as the burglar broke in through the front door and ransacked the restaurant looking for money.
Eventually the crook made it into the office and kitchen before stealing a framed display of two $20 bills and two $50 bills before making a run for it.
A Chicago pizzeria was burgled despite posting signs that the business does not keep cash on the premises
The burglar broke in through the front door and ransacked the restaurant looking for money
The owner, George Bumbaris, said that the display had sentimental value and was never meant to be spent with the frame containing ‘lucky bills’.
The money consisted of banknotes that had signed by family and friends, including the very first $20 the pizza joint ever made.
‘It was only sentimental to me. I was never going to spend that money,’ Bumbaris told CBS News. ‘I was more distraught than anything,’ he added.
Bumbaris is upset the thief didn’t see the sign stating that no cash was used at the location
Bumbaris opened the restaurant during the pandemic and adopted a cards-only model due to recent crimes in the area
Surveillance footage showed the thief breaking through the front door
Bumbaris opened the restaurant during the pandemic and adopted a cards-only model due to recent crimes in the area.
‘It’s the last call you wanna get in the middle of the night,’ he said. ‘I wish they had read the [cashless] sign before coming in.’ Bumbaris noted.
Replacing the smashed door cost the entire weekend’s takings.
Chicago police are now investigating the incident along with number of other burglaries that have been reported since Christmas. No arrests have been made.
Thefts have soared in Chicago buy 56 per cent year on year, while robberies are up 14 per cent. Overall crimes soared 41 per cent in 2022, from a total of 47,452 recorded incidents in 2021, to 66,855 the following year.
Democrat Mayor Lori Lightfoot has come under increasing pressure to tackle the crime wave, as corporations and businesses continue to close their doors.
Bumbaris said the smashed door cost him the entire weekend’s takings
Thefts were up 56% during the year 2022
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