TO WATCH. MILWAUKEE POLICE SAY TWO SUSPECTS BROKE INTO PURPLE HAZE BEFORE SIX IN THE EVENING. THE OWNER SAYS THEY CAME IN THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR, BROKE THIS DISPLAY CASE AND WHAT HAPPENED NEXT WAS CAUGHT ON SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS. THE VIDEO SHOWS ONE MAN CONFRONTING AN EMPLOYEE WHO TRIES HANDING OVER PRODUCT TO THE ROBBER. HE JUMPS THE GLASS COUNTER AND AT ONE POINT GRABS THE REGISTER AND THROWS A GLASS TIP JAR AT THE WORKER’S HEAD. ANOTHER CAMERA VIEW SHOWS A SECOND MAN JUMP FROM THE GLASS DISPLAY CASE DOWN ONTO THE WORKER, STOMPING ON HIS HEAD SEVERAL TIMES. THE ROBBERS GRAB WHAT THEY CAN, KNOCKING OVER ANOTHER DISPLAY CASE AND MAKING THEIR GETAWAY. THE SHOP’S OWNER NOW PICKING UP THE PIECES ON THANKSGIVING, ESTIMATING A $10,000 LOSS INCLUDING A STOLEN CASH REGISTER AND MULTIPLE BROKEN DISPLAY CASES. THIS THING CAN GET REPLACED. I’M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THIS, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THEY HURT MY EMPLOYEE. THAT’S NOT THE GOOD THING. YOU KNOW, I’M NOT WORRIED ABOUT, LIKE, THINGS GOT DAMAGED BECAUSE I CAN REPLACE THIS, BUT SOMEBODY GETTING HURT, THAT’S MORE PAINFUL. THAT EMPLOYEE WAS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL, AND HE’S NOW RECOVERING AT HOME. MILWAUKEE POLICE, THOUGH THEY SAY THEY’RE STILL LOOKING FOR THOSE TWO SUSPECTS. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CONTACT POLIC
Violent robbery at Milwaukee smoke shop sends worker to hospital
Two robbers ransacked Purple Haze Vape and Smoke on Milwaukee’s east side and attacked an employee, leaving him with serious injuries
Updated: 5:18 PM CST Nov 27, 2025
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Right near Farwell Avenue and Brady Street, on Milwaukee’s east side, Purple Haze Vape and Smoke was the target of a violent robbery Wednesday.Milwaukee police said the robbery happened before 6 p.m. Two robbers, one armed with a knife, demanded property and beat the employee.Surveillance video shows one man confronting the employee, who tries handing over a product to a hooded robber whose face is partially concealed. The robber jumps the glass counter, grabs the register and throws a glass tip jar at the worker’s head.Another camera shows a second robber, also in a hoodie and mask, jump from the glass display case down onto the worker, stomping repeatedly on his head.”I got here, then basically when I saw him, it was blood everywhere,” Fez Farooqui said. “He was shocked, like shaking.”Farooqui owns the shop. He said the robbers broke two of his employee’s ribs and left him bloody, needing stitches to his ear. He went to the hospital and has since been released and continues to recover from his injuries at home.”Christmas is coming, the holidays are coming. Everybody’s enjoying the time. And the day before Thanksgiving, everything got ruined here. You know, it is painful,” Farooqui said.The video shows the robbers grab what they can, then knock a second glass display case over, before making their getaway.”They stole the cash register, they broke two credit card machines, they damaged the showcases. I had to replace this one. It was so quick,” Farooqui said. “They put everything in the garbage bag. Just in and out.”Farooqui estimates $10,000 in lost products and damages. The store closed hours early Wednesday while police investigated.”I’m not worried about things that got damaged because I can replace this, but somebody getting hurt, that’s more painful,” Farooqui said. “They don’t have no heart. They don’t have no feelings. They don’t care about anybody. They just want to rob and leave and hurt people.”Farooqui organized a GoFundMe for his employee who was hurt. Milwaukee police say they are still searching for the two suspects. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milwaukee police at 414-935-7360 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-Tips or the P3 Tips app. Top HeadlinesWinter Storm Watch issued for Saturday snowstorm in SE Wisconsin1 dead, 4 injured in Ozaukee Co. semi crash on I-43National Guard members shot in DC identified; shooting investigated as terrorismWATCH Consumer Reports: Strategies for best Black Friday deals
Right near Farwell Avenue and Brady Street, on Milwaukee’s east side, Purple Haze Vape and Smoke was the target of a violent robbery Wednesday.
Milwaukee police said the robbery happened before 6 p.m. Two robbers, one armed with a knife, demanded property and beat the employee.
Surveillance video shows one man confronting the employee, who tries handing over a product to a hooded robber whose face is partially concealed. The robber jumps the glass counter, grabs the register and throws a glass tip jar at the worker’s head.
Another camera shows a second robber, also in a hoodie and mask, jump from the glass display case down onto the worker, stomping repeatedly on his head.
“I got here, then basically when I saw him, it was blood everywhere,” Fez Farooqui said. “He was shocked, like shaking.”
Farooqui owns the shop. He said the robbers broke two of his employee’s ribs and left him bloody, needing stitches to his ear. He went to the hospital and has since been released and continues to recover from his injuries at home.
“Christmas is coming, the holidays are coming. Everybody’s enjoying the time. And the day before Thanksgiving, everything got ruined here. You know, it is painful,” Farooqui said.
The video shows the robbers grab what they can, then knock a second glass display case over, before making their getaway.
“They stole the cash register, they broke two credit card machines, they damaged the showcases. I had to replace this one. It was so quick,” Farooqui said. “They put everything in the garbage bag. Just in and out.”
Farooqui estimates $10,000 in lost products and damages. The store closed hours early Wednesday while police investigated.
“I’m not worried about things that got damaged because I can replace this, but somebody getting hurt, that’s more painful,” Farooqui said. “They don’t have no heart. They don’t have no feelings. They don’t care about anybody. They just want to rob and leave and hurt people.”
Farooqui organized a GoFundMe for his employee who was hurt.
Milwaukee police say they are still searching for the two suspects. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milwaukee police at 414-935-7360 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-Tips or the P3 Tips app.
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