CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — It looked like business as usual at Lake View's Heritage Bikes and Coffee on Monday.
Owner Michael Salvatore said that wasn't the case on Friday.
"I guess what happened was someone came through around 1:30 a.m., smashed a window, grabbed a bike out of the window and took off with it," Salvatore said.
Heritage first opened in 2012. Recently, though, Salvatore said break-ins are becoming about as common as seeing some of their regular customers.
"We've replaced the window at least four times," he said.
The fifth-generation Chicagon said turning things around at a citywide level won't happen overnight.
"There needs to be accountability," he said. "I think that's the problem now. It seems like everyone's passing the buck, and ultimately the guys stuck with the bill [are] small businesses, who are, in my case, kind of stuck in the middle."
Salvatore said he's not trying to order up any sympathy — rather, his goal is to spread awareness.
"It's really about making sure that other people in the city are aware that this is happening," he said.
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