Blackhawks sweatshirts, cash stolen in Gunzo’s burglary

SHARE Blackhawks sweatshirts, cash stolen in Gunzo’s burglary
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According to surveillance video, it took two kicks to remove the pane of glass from the front door of Gunzo’s Hockey Headquarters, 1501 W. Madison St. | Mitch Dudek/Sun-Times

Police are investigating a smash-and-grab burglary that took place overnight at a hockey equipment and apparel store just east of the United Center.

Someone kicked in the door of Gunzo’s Hockey Headquarters, 1501 W. Madison Ave., about 2:10 a.m. and took Blackhawks merchandise and money from the cash register, according to Chicago Police.

Employees got notification from a security company that the alarm at the store had been triggered, according to a store manager who asked not to be identified.

Upon arriving at the store, employees found the pane of glass from the front door had been kicked in — though it was still in one piece.

Security video showed a person grabbing several hundred dollars from the cash register, as well as about eight sweatshirts that look like Blackhawks jerseys – each with a retail value of $109.95.

Despite the door-sized pane of glass leaning against the front counter Tuesday morning, there were no other indications the store had been robbed hours earlier.

Two employees who were waiting for a repairman to fix the door said the shop would open at its regularly scheduled time of 10 a.m.

The thief wore a Blackhawks jacket and hat, according to the employee who reviewed surveillance footage from an in-store camera.

“The guy had his hat pulled down so it we couldn’t really get a good look at his face,” said a store employee.

Surveillance video showed the thief looking around on the sidewalk outside the store before knocking in the glass with two kicks. The shoe prints could still be seen on the glass.

“Obviously we know our Blackhawks are very popular,” said Keith Jackson, who owns three Gunzo’s hockey shops in the city and suburbs, as well as two Pequods Pizza restaurants. “So their apparel is popular on the secondary street market.”

“We’re pretty much resigned to the fact that we’re not going to perhaps catch this individual, but hopefully we’ll get other business people in the area to be on their toes and maybe we’ll get lucky and shut him down,” said Jackson, 63, who lives in Evanston and was vacationing in Florida this week.

Contributing: Sun-Times Media Wire

When employees arrived at Gunzo’s early Tuesday, they found this piece of glass from the front door leaning against the counter. | Mitch Dudek/Sun-Times

When employees arrived at Gunzo’s early Tuesday, they found this piece of glass from the front door leaning against the counter. | Mitch Dudek/Sun-Times

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