CHICAGO (WLS) — It took thieves armed with a crowbar several minutes and a lot of elbow grease to break into an Avondale car wash, as part of a series of three burglaries Wednesday night.
The thieves were armed with a crowbar, which they used to slowly pry open a steel security door at a Neon Car Wash.
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“This is unbelievable, there's so much going on in the city,” said owner Faiz Khan.
Police said the two thieves arrived at the alley at about 9:15 p.m. Wednesday in a white Hyundai SUV. Each was carrying an iron bar.
At first, the duo had difficulty opening the back door, but they refused to give in. After bending part of it backwards, the door wouldn't move, so one of them used his body weight, which finally worked.
Once inside, one of the thieves broke into the office and tried to use his metal rod to open the cash register, even though there was a key on the register in case of a break-in.
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“Just open the box, take the money and leave,” Khan said. “I did, but unfortunately he grabbed the box, threw it on the floor and ruined it.”
Khan said the destroyed record is now worth much more than the small coins inside.
Police said the thieves robbed two other businesses in Wicker Park the same day.
Business owners say there is a full-blown theft crisis in the city. Khan has appealed to city leaders.
“I need some action,” he said. “Right now, we’re desperate.”
Khan says his car wash just opened at the beginning of the summer, but he's already wondering if he'll have to close.
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