A spike in robberies of meals distributors on the Higher West Facet is inflicting anxiousness amongst grub sellers.
J.C. Rice for NY Publish
The Higher West Facet is changing into the wild west for late night time outside meals distributors — who've been focused by gun-toting thieves 4 instances previously week alone, The Publish has discovered.
The incidents are a part of a wider, disturbing sample plaguing the al fresco grub sellers in Higher Manhattan, stated police.
- On April 3, a gun-toting man walked as much as a espresso cart at Broadway and West 136th Avenue in Harlem, stealing $500 and a $200 cellular phone from the 38-year-old man manning the cart, police stated.
- On April 16, a pistol-wielding perp walked as much as a taco truck at Broadway and West seventieth Avenue simply earlier than 2 a.m., and stole $500 and a cellular phone from a 19-year-old lady working there, the NYPD stated. The criminal threatened to shoot the girl if she left the truck, cops stated.
- On April 18, a person approached a fruit vendor on Broadway and 86th Avenue, asking for change for a $10 invoice. When the seller took out his money, the criminal whipped out his handgun, stole $150 and the seller’s cellular phone, the NYPD stated.
- On April 19, simply after midnight, the taco truck at Broadway and West seventieth was hit once more, this time for $65 whereas a girl, 48, was working.
- The identical day, simply earlier than 6 p.m. a thief waved his gun at a 31-year-old lady cooking at a Tasty Burrito truck on Amsterdam Avenue, between West 76th Avenue and West 77th Avenue, and made off with $150.
“Earlier than it occurred, I used to be nice. Now I’m scared on a regular basis,” stated Cafil Mahmud, who was working on the fruit stand when it was robbed. “I’m on their own right here. It’s empty. Nobody is watching. There are barely any taxis. All of it's gradual.”
He was capable of finding his cellphone after the robber ditched it only some blocks away.
The neighborhood is desolate and eerily quiet for a lot of Mahmud’s 10 p.m to five a.m. shift – few pedestrians, even fewer fellow distributors and no acquainted faces – so he’s at all times nervous about who would possibly stroll up on him, he informed The Publish.
The 50-year-old Bangladeshi immigrant stated discovering a brand new, safer job isn’t an choice. He’s been working on the fruit stand off the books for 12 years, making about $700 every week, to help his spouse and three youngsters, considered one of whom is in school.
“If I am going someplace else, I would solely make $400 or $500 every week due to taxes,” he stated.
Mahmud’s coworker on the day shift stated there’s not a lot a vendor can do when somebody shoves a gun of their face.
“You simply give the cash and that’s it. That’s what you’ve obtained to do to remain alive,” Taskin Elmali stated. “I’ve labored right here for 10 years, and it was a very good, secure place, however I’ve by no means seen it like this earlier than.”
Pedro Cortez, 20, works on the Taco y Quesadilla truck that was robbed twice. Utilizing a translator app, the Mexico Metropolis native described the incidents as “very ugly” ordeals and stated he fears it can occur to him sooner or later.
Different distributors alongside Broadway are apprehensive they might be subsequent.
“Each morning, I begin my day, go away my home and pray to God to avoid wasting me,” stated Ahmed Abdelfattah, 50. “I've to make a dwelling.”
Initially from Egypt, Abdelfattah started parking his breakfast cart between 70th and 71st Avenue in January. Six weeks in the past, within the early morning, thieves stole his generator when he briefly stepped away .
“A brand new one prices $1,200, and I haven’t made sufficient cash for it but.”
He’s been serving espresso, donuts and croissants by the white glow of a small, transportable work gentle ever since.
Abdelfattah stated there must be extra unmarked cruisers and plain garments cops within the neighborhood, a measure Mayor Eric Adams reinstated to deal with the struggle towards unlawful firearms.
“Particularly round right here by the (72nd Avenue) subway, so if something occurs, the cops can cease individuals making an attempt to get on the prepare,” he stated.
Residents are scared, too.
“It’s actually horrifying. We’re used to strolling by means of this neighborhood night time and day and feeling secure, and now it doesn’t,” Jill Berman, who has been shopping for her produce on the fruit stand for years, stated. “Usually you are feeling protected as a result of these distributors are out right here, however now they’re those who want safety.”
It’s not simply avenue distributors being focused. A needed poster was taped to Cortez’ truck, asking for details about one other current gunpoint theft within the neighborhood at El Gallo Taqueria, on Amsterdam Avenue between West 83rd Avenue and West 84th Avenue.
The Taqueria was held up April 17, by a thief who drew his weapon earlier than snatching the tip jar and $119 from the register.
Two different armed robberies had been reported at brick and mortar eating places in Harlem and the Higher West Facet.
Just one arrest has been made thus far. Ryan Little, 37, was arrested after allegedly holding up Jimbo’s Hamburger Palace on Amsterdam between Martin Luther King Boulevard and West 126th Avenue, the place he allegedly snagged $1,500 from the register. He was caught after somebody from the restaurant chased him into close by St. Nicholas Park, police stated.
Investigations are nonetheless ongoing for the opposite six robberies, police stated.
Post a Comment