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They are the neighborhood stores recognized for having basic products on hand at any time. And more and more thieves are appropriating products without paying, which has forced the owners of these establishments, 70 percent of them Hispanic according to data from the Grocers Association, to lock up laundry soaps and shampoos.
“We have had to put chains on the products that can be taken, such as soaps, oil, gallons of oil, we have also had to tie it up and put other merchandise that has a certain price behind the counter,” says Francisco Marte, President of the Association of winemakers and small merchants.
The new dynamics have reduced the ‘convenience’ of these stores, and their owners have had to hire private security.
“It is a risk that one runs because the one who enters to steal what he brings does not know, “says Raúl, an employee of a Deli.
The Association of winemakers sent to the mayor’s office and the governor’s office of New York a list of requests, asking for more police protection and prison for crimes of theft of less than a thousand dollars.
“So that assaults on businesses, employees, or the business owner are classed as ‘felony’ and that there is a greater police presence and that criminals begin to prosecute them, not to give them a ticket to go see the judge”, Marte continues.
The mayor’s office has recognized the problem and has said that it has met with the winemakers in order to find a solution to this problem that threatens their economy. Ángela González, Voice of America, New York.
