Two men steal ATM from Manhattan bodega, trend of similar thefts reported
United Bodega of America member Fernando Mateo described the crime as something 'out of a movie script'
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Two men stole an ATM from the wall outside of a New York City bodega in what some fear is a growing trend, according to reports.
The suspects were reported early Friday morning as they were in the middle of prying the ATM free outside of the Yankee Deli on Avenue C in the East Village, ABC 7 reported. The suspects loaded the ATM into a vehicle with New Jersey license plates.
The driver pulled down most of the bodega wall along with the ATM as he tried to pull it free.
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"I can't believe that happened to my store because the neighborhood is quiet here, and it's crazy," deli owner Jose Collado said. "I'm very angry when I see that, because before the city was good, but now the city is crazy, there's not a lot of police in the street."
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The suspects carried out their plan at around 4:30 a.m., but there were still plenty of witnesses despite the early hour.
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Fernando Mateo of the United Bodegas of America told the New York Post that the industry is seeing an increase in similar ATM thefts.
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“We have never witnessed anything like this before,” Matteo told the Post. “It’s like out of a movie script, they must have seen this on TV.”
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UBA president Radames Rodriguez described the trend as “devastating” to bodega owners and workers.
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“We work 15 hours a day and to wake up and find your bodegas in shambles is not acceptable,” Rodriguez said. “We have had enough and the Mayor must respond, what’ s going on in the City?”
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The NYPD did not immediately release data on how many such robberies have happened, the Post reported.