Footage shows a masked New York suspect robbing two stores as crime surges in US retail
A masked man was caught on video carrying out two chain store robberies in Brooklyn – as cops from coast to coast grapple with an epidemic of retail break-ins.
The New York crook stole more than $11,000 worth of goods and cash over two nights, said the NYPD, which released footage of the suspect on Saturday.
During the first robbery on Aug. 17, the suspect entered the store on Fulton Street Burlington after hours, between 12:43 a.m. and 5:30 a.m., through an emergency exit, cops said.
The thief stole items worth a total of $6,050, including perfume, clothing and electronics, before fleeing the scene.
The same burglar then robbed the Fulton Street Champ store again a few weeks later on Sept. 5, police said.
He forced his way into the store and fled with clothing, sneakers and $700 cash worth a total of $5,300 during the crime, which occurred between 12:30 a.m. and 5 a.m., cops said.
Police described the suspect as being around 1.75 meters tall and of slim build.
The video shared by the NYPD shows the suspect wearing a yellow hoodie, a dark baseball cap, black pants, a black face mask and a black backpack.
The crimes come as cities across the country grapple with a growing epidemic of organized shoplifting and burglaries, including in California, where officials plan to spend $267 million to help local law enforcement combat the troubling surge .
Over the summer, a store in Burlington, California, was targeted by three women who were caught on camera slowly pushing out three shopping carts full of merchandise in a broad daylight spectacle.
Video of the brazen theft, shared onlineshowed the women loading their stolen goods into a red Dodge Charger as alarm bells rang in the background.
“Damn, look at these people stealing! Say hello to the camera!” In the video, the man filming can be heard saying to the women as the suspects hurl piles of clothing and shoes into the trunk of their car.
“Look at that. “What the hell is that?” says the man and walks towards her.
Sacramento police said a police report has been filed regarding the incident.
According to the National Retail Federation, retail theft in America has risen to $94 billion – an alarming 90% increase since 2018.
Police ask anyone with information about the crimes in Brooklyn to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or in Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
