Shop Owner Beaten, Robbed

Robbers struck a shop owner in the head with a socket wrench Tuesday, stole his wallet, then fled his North Side store, authorities said.

James McFarling was treated at Holy Family Hospital and released, a nursing supervisor said.

Two men brought tools they apparently wanted to sell into Reclaimers, N6416 Market, at 4:45 p.m., Sheriff’s Lt. Doug Silver said.

The men fled the store after the robbery. Later, deputies learned that one of the men was seen in the area of Havana and Decatur, Silver said.

A police dog helped deputies track his scent to a home in the area, where a resident apparently allowed the man to make a phone call, he said.

The dog tracked the other robber’s scent to a nearby location where deputies believe he drove off in a car.

One was described as a white man, about 6 feet tall, 175 pounds with a mustache, Silver said. The only description of the second man was that he’s slightly shorter.