Streator community assists Dig Doug’s BBQ reopening after burglary

Dig Doug’s BBQ in Streator recently reopened its doors after a break-in that left the restaurant’s front door shattered and cash stolen.

The burglary occurred on the morning of Dec. 29, before owner Doug Allen arrived at his restaurant to find the damage.

“As soon as I turned into the parking lot and my headlights hit the front door, I saw it was gone. Glass everywhere,” Allen said.

Although Allen initially investigated the scene before calling the police, he was able to confirm money was stolen during the break-in.

“I probably shouldn’t have gone in there before I called the police, but I had to see what happened,” he said.

Despite the emotional toll of the incident, Allen and co-owner, Joi Ruffin, were able to reopen quickly.

The break-in took place on a Sunday, Dig Doug’s last day of operation for the week, and the restaurant was closed for repairs during its normally scheduled Monday-to-Wednesday closure.

The owners had to board up the door, repair the damage and address the impact on their security systems.

“We’ve been here for seven years, and we’ve had some vandalism, but this is the first time we’ve been burglarized,” Allen said. “I mean, I just felt sick to my stomach when I first saw it.”

The break-in left an emotional mark on the business, with Ruffin explaining how things feel different moving forward.

“Every time the door opened after it happened, you’re jumping. It’s changed the way we think. We used to leave the door between the kitchen and the lobby open because we trusted our customers. Now, it feels different,” Ruffin said.

The restaurant received support from the Streator community, rallying to help cover repair costs and allowing a quick turnaround.

Tanya Olson, a local friend, organized a fundraiser, while several other local businesses donated money.

“People in Streator really stepped up when we needed it the most and we can’t thank them enough,” Allen said. “It made it possible for us to reopen as quickly as we did and keep going.”

While the burglary has been a setback, the two emphasized they’re determined to stay open while doing their best to prevent these situations in the future.

Since the break-in, the co-owners have updated their security, including a new camera system while putting stricter protocols in place to avoid another.

“We’re doing things differently now. We’ve thought about everything, from how we secure the money to making sure our staff is well prepared in case of another emergency,” Allen said.

While an arrest in connection with the break-in has not officially been made, the Streator Police Department recently announced they have identified a suspect.

The man they identified as a suspect, Kevin E. Robertson Jr., was arrested Jan. 7 in Pontiac on a failure to appear charge. Streator police said there was an arrest warrant for the Dec. 18 burglary of a tavern. The man was released Jan. 8 from La Salle County Jail.

Regardless, Allen and Ruffin expressed gratitude for the support they’ve received and plan to continue serving customers with the same passion as before.

“It’s going to take more than this to shut Dig Doug’s down,” Allen said, noting that their resilience has only made the staff and business stronger.

“We’re just thankful for everyone in the community who’s supported us through all this,” Ruffin said. “It was a tough situation, but we’re back.”