A family business is struggling to stay open after being robbed for the third time.
Surveillance video shows the latest robbery, which occurred over the weekend near the intersection of Ohio Street and Noble Street.
“We are a small business and we can't afford to get hit like this,” said the owner, who asked to remain anonymous. “People are closing their stores and not wanting to work in them; it's very frustrating and very scary.”
The owner, too afraid to show her face on camera, told NBC Chicago that crime is getting out of control in the city.
“I'm waiting for someone to come here with a gun and rob us right now,” he said.
Ring video shared with NBC Chicago shows four teenagers staking out his store overnight Sunday. The video shows one of them using a hammer to break through. One by one, the video shows the suspects crawling out the front door.
“They only take lights and cigarettes,” he said. “Last time they took chips, like three or four bags, not even like a box.”
Last month, the owner said another group of teenagers broke in using an umbrella base. None of them have been captured.
“He says no one has consequences and they don't care, and I think these kids are teenagers and they think, 'They're going to arrest me and let me go or they won't even arrest me,'” he said. “By the time they get in and out of here, the police couldn't even get here.”
The owner said repairs are expensive. It's costing her about $1,500 each time to replace the glass door and she's not sure how much more she could handle.
“I can't let them win,” he said. “But eventually I'll have to make a decision, because I can't keep losing either.”
So far this year, police data shows robberies have increased by 12th district, although the number of reported cases fell by 10% citywide. The owner here said that nowhere is safe.
“We really need to support each other, and we need to come together and really decide how we're going to deal with this,” he said. “These small businesses are being hit hard. “We need more police, they need our support and we are just not doing anything.”