Vandals broke into multiple businesses along Clark Street in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood overnight Monday into Tuesday.
Among the storefronts vandalized were at least 13 on both sides of Clark Street, between Fullerton Parkway and Deming Place.
The businesses targeted included restaurants Sultan's Market, Kala Modern Greek, CM Chicken, Moon Bowls, Aloha Eats, Molly's Cupcakes, Epic Snack Shack and Doner 97, as well as The Other Side Bar, Little Bit Cleaner, Top Cleaners, a UPS store, and a Great Clips hair salon.
Surveillance video from Kala Modern Greek, 2523 N. Clark St., captured a person smashing the restaurant's front door. Video inside Molly's Cupcakes, 2536 N. Clark St., shows two people running into the business through the smashed window.
The door to Top Cleaners was completely broken, and the owner told CBS News Chicago that a cash register with $250 inside is missing.
Multiple abandoned cash registers were found on the grass near the Lincoln Park Zoo.
Surveillance video from Molly's Cupcakes showed a group of burglars in black hoodies opening the register. Management said the alarm went off and the crooks got away with nothing.
Video footage from inside Kala Greek showed one of the burglars kicking the glass to break in. Nothing was stolen in that break-in either.
A.J. Miller, manager at The Pasta Bowl and neighboring The Other Side Bar, said even though the sign on the door warns there is no cash inside, the crew still broke in. They didn't steal anything, but left something behind.
"They broke in across the street, took a cash register box from across the street, and used it to break the window here. So, we found a broken cash register inside," Miller said.
Now, like other victims of the crime spree, they're left paying for the damage left behind, often paying out of pocket to prevent higher insurance costs.
"Any added expense is no joke, especially for small businesses," Miller said.
The president of the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce said they're stepping in to help. With rising costs already making operating a business in the neighborhood challenging, they have a special rebate program to provide help to those repairing or replacing damaged storefront glass.
Business owners said another way Chicagoans can help is to come out to Clark Street to shop and eat this week.
"If you're in the neighborhood, please come out," Miller said.
No arrests have been made. CBS News Chicago has reached out to police for more information.
In a letter to constituents, Ald. Timmy Knudsen (43rd) said the Chicago Police Department has placed the Clark Street corridor "under special attention and is running active burglary missions with dedicated officers monitoring the area."
Knudsen also asked anyone with camera footage to contact Area Three Detectives at 312-744-8263 or submit a tip at chicagopolice.org/submit-a-tip. Knudsen called the burglaries "senseless" and released the following statement in part:
"These burglaries are senseless crimes. Most businesses don't keep cash on site, and break-ins leave local owners with costly repairs and timely clean up. As I continue to engage CPD leadership for a resolution to these crimes, I will keep pressing for long-term solutions, including a sustained patrol on Clark Street while also investing in public safety infrastructure like public observation devices (POD cameras) where gaps in coverage are identified."
He said his office is working with the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce and the Clark Street Special Service Area on "additional, creative ways to protect the corridor."
