Soda Drinking Burglar Raids Coin Machines at Laundromat

A customer confronted a huge mess at an Oak Lawn laundromat where a burglar had ransacked coin machines and stole the video surveillance system during the overnight hours of Dec. 6.

The owner of Oak Tree Coin Laundry at 10820 S. Cicero Ave. said he had received a call from the first customer of the day when the business’s doors automatically opened at 6 a.m. When he arrived, he discovered signs of forced entry to the building’s exterior and interior doors.

Police noted extensive damage to the inside of the business, including a dollar changing machine that had been pried off the wall, as well as damage to other machines.

The burglar or burglars gained access into the business by prying the rear security door, possibly with a crowbar. The phone and cable lines to all the boxes on the outside of the building had also been cut, reports said.

Police said the burglar broke into the office and removed a small step ladder, as well as the digital surveillance recorder and security cameras. Miscellaneous keys were taken from the desk, where the burglar had apparently tried opening the suds dispensing machine without success.

The crook also dumped garbage on the floor, but placed the trash can upright. It is unknown why, reports said.

The owner told police the burglar drank a 20-ounce bottle of Crush that was apparently tossed during the robbery. The report did not indicate if the soda was orange or grape Crush.