Supermarket owners across New York City are raising alarms over a surge of violent thefts carried out by an armed gang that has been targeting grocery stores and convenience markets in several boroughs. The assailants, reportedly wielding bladed weapons, have conducted a series of coordinated robberies in recent weeks, prompting growing frustration among local business owners who accuse the New York City Police Department (NYPD) of failing to take decisive action.
According to store managers and trade associations, the gang typically operates in small groups, entering shops under the guise of regular customers before brandishing knives or machetes and demanding cash and goods. Several incidents have been captured on surveillance footage, showing the suspects threatening employees and fleeing with merchandise, cigarettes, and cash registers.
One grocery store owner in the Bronx described the situation as “a nightmare for small businesses,” emphasizing that repeated complaints to the police have not led to visible results. “We report, they take statements, and that’s it,” he said. “These people come back the next week to another shop down the block.”
Community leaders are calling for increased police patrols and stricter penalties for retail theft, warning that the wave of armed robberies could force some small shops to shut down entirely. The New York City Retailers Association estimates that incidents of organized shoplifting and armed theft have increased by nearly 40% over the past year, particularly in outer boroughs like Brooklyn and the Bronx.
An NYPD spokesperson said the department is “aware of the ongoing investigations” and urged store owners to continue reporting incidents, assuring that specialized units are working to identify and apprehend those responsible.
The surge in retail crime comes as the city faces broader concerns over public safety and economic recovery. For many small business owners, the fear is not just about financial loss — it’s about the safety of workers and customers who now feel increasingly vulnerable.
As one store clerk put it, “We’re just trying to make a living — but now, every time someone walks in, we wonder if it’s going to be another robbery.”
