Bodega, deli workers and owners rally to demand action to prevent violent crimes in their stores
NEW YORK -- Bodega owners and workers rallied Wednesday in the Morrisania section of the Bronx, demanding action from Albany to help stop a rash of recent robberies and shootings in their stores.
CBS2 spoke to employees afraid to come to work.
"It is scary. Even my customers are scared coming in here," a deli manager named Ahmed said.
He said one of the most dangerous jobs in the city is working in a deli, especially late at night.
"I got a gun in the head. I'm used to it. It's part of the job," Ahmed said.
But it should absolutely not be part of the job, says the United Bodegas of America, which represents dozens of stores across the city.
READ MORE: Bodega customers asked to lower masks, as police search for suspect in deadly crime spree
During the rally, the coalition called for increased safety following several major crimes this month, including an armed robbery at a deli in the Melrose section of the Bronx on Friday. Police are still searching for the suspect, who was seen wearing a hazmat suit and black mask. They are investigating whether he is linked to other deli crimes, including the shooting death a 67-year-old worker on the Upper East Side on Friday night.
Last month, a man with an AR-15 rifle ambushed a 47-year-old deli worker in South Ozone Park, Queens.
"It's a risk, any time you work behind the counter without the partition," bodega worker Bishop Franklin said.
"Of course, there has to have more security. Our lives are gonna be in danger. It would be nice to have more policeman in plain clothes," worker Abraham Rodriguez added.
READ MORE: Sources: 2 high school students shot at Brooklyn bodega
Beyond increased patrols, the United Bodegas of America want to see repeat offenders face harsher penalties, and for bail reform to be repealed.
"We're not asking for nonviolent offenders to be locked up without bail. Bail reform applies to them, but people that commit violent crimes -- assault, robberies -- repeatedly, it should definitely not apply," spokesman Fernando Mateo said.
Deli owners say it's hard right now to find people willing to work behind the counter, in these conditions.
"We're having problems. I don't have no deli man on the weekends," Ahmed said.
"I think we need some security at the doors, especially a store that's open 24 hours. It's going to be too dangerous at night time, people drinking, smoking," another bodega owner said.
The coalition said it is adding whatever safety measures it can.
"We've put up partitions. We put up alarms. We put up buzzers on doors," Mateo said.
However, advocates say the most important changes need to come from the courts and the state.
Meanwhile, police are still searching for the suspect wearing the hazmat suit. Investigators say he took off on a scooter.
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.
