Palo Alto Police Investigate Holiday Restaurant Burglaries

A series of burglaries has targeted restaurants in downtown Palo Alto, with four establishments hit within two weeks, including Local Union 271, Nola, Coupa Café, and San Agus. In a separate incident, Burr Ridge experienced multiple break-ins, affecting five businesses, while a strip mall in Chicago's Ashburn neighborhood was vandalized by smash-and-grab thieves who broke into four restaurants without finding much cash. The Palo Alto Police Department is investigating the incidents, which have left restaurant owners concerned, particularly as they rebound from pandemic impacts. In Plymouth, a man named Lee Borda admitted to burglarizing several eateries around the same time, with damages and stolen amounts reported in the hundreds. The recent crime wave highlights the vulnerabilities faced by small businesses as they navigate a challenging economic landscape.