Chicago police requested the public’s help Sunday in identifying four people suspected of burglarizing Logan Square’s James Beard award-winning Lula Cafe and three other nearby businesses late last month, while thieves hit longtime West Town Italian restaurant Piccolo Sogno early Sunday.
Authorities released security footage Sunday that showed three people walking around inside Lula Cafe, 2537 N. Kedzie Blvd., at about 4:40 a.m. June 30, one of whom appears to be carrying a safe.
Police said in a community alert that four young men used a tire iron to break glass doors on the businesses and took money, safes and electronics before fleeing in a black Infiniti sedan.
The group that appeared on Lula Cafe’s security footage is also thought to have committed three other burglaries between 3 and 5 a.m. June 30. The other burglaries occurred at businesses in the 2400 block of West Division Street, the 3100 block of West Armitage Avenue and the 2600 block of West Division Street, according to CPD.
Just weeks before the burglary, the restaurant was the sole Chicago winner at the 2024 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards, taking home the prize in the Outstanding Hospitality category. Lula Cafe ownership and media representatives did not immediately return a request for comment.
The burglary at Piccolo Sogno, 464 N. Halsted St., occurred about 4:10 a.m. Sunday and a review of security footage showed four people taking property, police said.
Piccolo Sogno chef and co-owner Tony Priolo said this was the third time this year the restaurant had been burglarized. He wasn’t sure about the extent of the losses but said the suspects broke in through the front door of the restaurant and another door leading to the office.
Priolo said Mayor Brandon Johnson and other city leaders “need to take action. The businesses that are barely hanging on have to pay for this. They put enough ordinances on us already.”
He said the city’s restaurant scene would suffer otherwise.
“How are we supposed to be able to survive and employ all these people?” he said. “It’s a domino effect.”
Police said Monday night there was no one in custody from either set of break-ins.
