Trio's Pizza Ransacked and Cash Register Stolen in Higgins Avenue Burglary Spree

CHICAGO, Illinois — In the early morning hours of Thursday, January 23, 2025, local eatery Trio's Pizza was targeted by a group of commercial burglars who ransacked the property, causing significant structural damage and stealing the establishment's cash register.

Destructive Entry Method

Located at 7009 W. Higgins Ave. in Chicago's Union Ridge neighborhood, the pizzeria was breached at approximately 1:45 a.m. Security cameras captured five masked suspects exiting a silver sedan. One of the suspects used a large concrete block to repeatedly strike the front entrance until the glass door completely shattered. The crew then crawled through the broken door frame to gain access to the lobby.

Targeting the Register and Impact on Eatery

Inside the shop, the burglars focused entirely on the front counter, ripping the cash register from its mounts and carrying it out. Fortunately, the business owners had taken precautions due to a prior burglary in November 2024. A sign posted clearly at the register indicated that no cash is kept on the premises overnight. As a result, the thieves escaped with only a negligible amount of spare change.

Despite the lack of significant monetary loss, the impact on the family-owned restaurant is substantial. The cost of replacing the shattered commercial glass doors, repairing damaged POS mounts, and cleaning up the debris presents an ongoing challenge for the neighborhood establishment. “It's incredibly frustrating to deal with this twice in three months,” the owners commented.

Community Support and Ongoing Police Investigation

Local residents have rallied behind Trio's Pizza, promising increased patronage to help offset the costs of repairs. The Chicago Police Department is analyzing surveillance tape from the store and surrounding storefronts on Higgins Avenue. The incident is believed to be part of an organized commercial burglary pattern operating on the Northwest Side.