A string of bodega stick-ups in eastern Queens has local business owners on edge.
The NYPD reported two bodegas and a gas station were robbed in a seven-minute span on Friday, Sept. 1, and in each incident, three men of unknown ages indicated to store employees they had a gun while a fourth stood lookout. Another deli was robbed on Sunday, Sept. 3, around 9:45 p.m., police said. It was a similar story from Saturday, Sept. 9, when two delis and a stationary store were targeted within 45 minutes of each other.
In all, the six burglaries netted the robbers more than $16,000, according to police.
Police could not confirm all six busts were committed by the same people, but described the robberies as a “pattern.” Video surveillance footage shared by the NYPD from last weekend’s trio of robberies appear to show similar groups in each shop.
Workers at surrounding businesses of Super Deli on Northern Boulevard in Queens – one of the six recent burglary targets – said they were concerned for their safety following the armed robbery.
Jenny Park, 58, is a cashier at Sam Won Gahk Chinese Restaurant, just a few steps away from the deli. She said she was scared since she often works closing shifts at night.
“The security around here, not improved,” Park said. “I wish more police patrol here and people need to be aware. What else can we do?”
Park said there have been several reports of robberies in the area over the past year.
At Sweets Bakery Cafe, which is the direct neighbor of Super Deli, 22-year-old Tiffany Cao said she was concerned for her safety.
Cao runs the register for the bakery and said she was surprised to hear of the robbery.
“I was shocked because I never heard of the gun problem in this location,” Cao said. “I think in this location there needs to be more police.”
Police asked anyone with information on the robberies to call the department’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS.
#Queens #bodega #bandits #hit #shops #weekends #NYPD