CHICAGO — A Southwest Side business owner is at wit’s end after thieves targeted her store for a fourth time in less than two years.
Meriza Perez, owner of Sweet Treats in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood, said the most recent incident occurred this past Sunday and has left her more than frustrated.
“It’s like I’m failing right now,” Perez told WGN News on Monday, Dec. 23. “It’s the pressure and the break-ins. It has really set me back a lot. The holidays are here and I have kids. It’s a major setback.”
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Perez began her business from home and achieved her dream, opening a brick-and-mortar location for her candy store, which specializes in custom treats, cakes, and a wide selection of candies, almost two years ago. But Perez warns that the string break-ins have been challenging.
“I’ve been closed since Dec. 4 already, so it’s been hard,” she said. “The first time my store was broken into was in June of 2023. They broke in through next door. They broke the wall and they got inside and stole all my equipment (and) inventory,” Perez said.