NYPD: Suspects wanted for stealing $28,000 from Bay Ridge businesses
NEW YORK -- CBS2 has obtained new security video from a pattern of Bay Ridge burglaries that cost businesses big time -- a total of $28,000 in stolen cash in six break-ins.
On Sunday night, some of the victims shared their stories exclusively with CBS2's Tim McNicholas.
Fantastic Bagels owner Pedro Tlapa's security video shows two people outside his store -- one of them yanking on the door during the early morning hours of Sept. 5.
As the footage shows, the thief eventually gets in and goes straight for the cash register, rummaging through with a flashlight.
Later that morning, Tlapa found the shop in disarray and more than $3,700 missing.
"We working hard to make couple dollars, couple money, and those guys come and break. They make you sad, because that's no good," Tlapa said.
Police say thieves broke into two other Bay Ridge businesses that same morning and three others the morning of Aug. 30, all of them within a mile and a half of each other.
Detectives say they're looking for two men, seen on surveillance video at a gas station, in connection to all six burglaries.
"It makes you wonder about human nature," said Douglas Kelleher, the general manager of Cebu, a Third Avenue bar and bistro that lost more than $4,000 on Aug. 30.
"They know people they're stealing from are upset. They know people they're stealing from earn their money, and they don't seem to care," Kelleher said.
Police say the thieves got away with $12,000 from another Third Avenue restaurant that same morning.
Tlapa and his team are working to earn their $3,700 and shared some advice for the crooks.
"Find another way to make money," Tlapa said.
NYPD data shows burglaries in the police precinct are down 16 percent compared to last year. Citywide, they are up 33 percent.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.