String of business burglaries in Benton Harbor

BENTON HARBOR, MI. --  Benton Harbor police are investigating a string of business burglaries.

Tonight they are asking for your help in tracking down the bad guy.

The City’s Public Safety Director says seven businesses have been hit in the last month.

The latest was The Livery Brewery on Fifth Street.

Robbers smashed through their front window and stole their A.T.M machine.

The owner did not want to talk about the burglary at this time, but she did make her feelings known on her facebook page.

The Livery Microbrewery’s message to last night’s ATM thief was loud and clear.

Their facebook page reads, “To the crew who broke into The Livery last night, you took things that did not belong to you, we do however appreciate you leaving so much evidence behind.  We look forward to meeting you soon, Cheers!”

The Livery Brewery owner was not the only one upset about this string of robberies.

“Well they broke both of the front glass doors”, said Nica Mexican Restaurant employee Melody Alvarado.

Owners at Nica’s Mexican Restaurant were devastated when they got the call that their new business was broken into two weeks ago—just two weeks before their grand opening.

“They did not take anything with them, but the two glass doors were $600 just to get it fixed”, said Alvarado.

The owner’s daughter says $600 can mean a lot to a small business.

“We could have had employees for maybe a week to work with us”, said Alvarado.

Not to mention the damage thieves did by stalling Nica’s grand opening.

“Also we lost profit from not being able to be open”, said Alvarado.

I met up with the Department of Public Safety’s Roger Lange.  He had some advice for local businesses.

“Get a security system at your location”, said Department of Public Safety’s Roger Lange.

Lange was not able to say whether the break-ins were related.

“I am not in the position to say at this time”, said Lange.

But he did have a message of his own for the thieves.

“We will not tolerate this”, said Lange.

Lange says they do have a person of interest.  Anyone with additional information is asked to call Detectives at 269-927-8435 or call the 24hr tip line 269-927-0293 or Crime stoppers at 1-800-342-STOP .