Months After Robberies, A Stalled Investigation & Questions Of Security

A series of armed robberies last fall at Ox Cart Tavern, Mimi’s Hummus, Lark Café, and the Stratford Deli left our community feeling shaken and vulnerable. It also sparked an impassioned conversation about class, race, police, and the effects of gentrification in our community, much of which erupted during a heated town hall attended by hundreds of neighbors.

Now, about five months later, we checked in with police, community leaders, business owners, and the victims to find out how the investigations are going and what’s being done to prevent future incidents, as well as to see the lasting effect the string of robberies has had on our neighbors.

This report is the first in a week-long series. Today we look at the response to the crime. Tomorrow we look at the impact the crimes had, and then we’ll turn the conversation over to our readers for their thoughts and suggestions, before closing out the week with a list of tips to improve the neighborhood’s security.

There have been no arrests in last fall’s streak of armed robberies, which targeted a string of businesses and resulted in thousands of dollars in stolen property.

Deputy Inspector Richard DiBlasio, the commanding officer of the 70th Precinct, told us in an interview last week that the cops are still on the hunt for the suspects.

“Our detectives use all angles available to them,” the deputy inspector said. “A lot of cases are solved because of community members calling in and Crime Stoppers tips.”

Arrests appear unlikely, unless the perps get busted in a separate crime, new information surfaces, or somebody turns them in.

[pullquote]”We have a good relationship with the community, with our businesses. It’s the collaboration between the community and police that makes us safer.” –Deputy Inspector Richard DiBlasio[/pullquote]

Part of the problem, the precinct’s commanding officer has said, is a lack of clear surveillance footage. Police were able to release an image of the individual who stole about $600 from the Stratford Deli, as well as a grainier photo of the man who held up Mimi’s, taking off with a couple hundred dollars, because of security cameras there. At Lark, where one individual stole laptops from a writers group meeting there, and Ox Cart, where three men stole about $700 to $800, the business owners and police have noted that the robbers’ faces were covered — which is why, DiBlasio said, no sketches of the suspects have been released.

“The guy who robbed us was completely masked,” Lark owner Kari Browne wrote to us. “Cameras or not, being covered makes it basically impossible to ID someone. When the police arrived they took several of the witnesses out to look for the guy and they said to the police that they wouldn’t be able to ID him because he was totally masked. So I’m doubtful of any arrest based on an ID.”

Ox Cart’s David Pitula echoed Kari’s sentiment.

“They all had masks, so there were no identifying marks,” he said.

While the investigation seems stalled, the police are looking to tighten a bond with business owners to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

“We have a good relationship with the community, with our businesses,” the commanding officer said. “It’s the collaboration between the community and police that makes us safer.”

Their efforts are receiving mixed reviews.

“The precinct is, and has been, collaborating with us,” Mimi’s Hummus owner Avi Shuker said. “We’re building up a relationship with them.

[pullquote]”Afterwards, cops were stopping by all the time, and that was definitely appreciated. That’s stopped — I’ve had no updates from the detectives.” –David Pitula, of Ox Cart[/pullquote]

“The precinct is always in touch with us — they come and see us at the restaurant,” Avi continued. “They’ve been cooperating with us since the beginning.”

David, of Ox Cart, said he was pleased to see the increased police presence following the robbery, though he said that has died down.

“Afterwards, cops were stopping by all the time, and that was definitely appreciated,” David said. “That’s stopped — I’ve had no updates from the detectives.

“It seems like it’s been forgotten about; that’s a little disappointing,” he continued. “It would be nice if they came by. I give a discount of 10 percent to anyone in uniform.”

Other business owners in our neighborhood have said they want to see more of a connection between the precinct and the businesses, noting that in years past there was an officer who served as the liaison between store owners and the police, often coming around to chat up shopkeepers along commercial strips. While that role has changed, Deputy Inspector DiBlasio said there are still officers assigned to visiting businesses.

Additionally, the commanding officer noted that police will work with any business that requests what’s called a “crime prevention survey” — meaning an officer will go to a shop and help the owner determine the best way to both prevent, and record, crime, including where to place cameras.

The business owners, meanwhile, are taking precautions of their own — and eating the cost.

[pullquote]”We’re not leaving one guy to close alone again at the restaurant. We are spending money for that, but we have to do that.” –Mimi’s Hummus owner Avi Shuker[/pullquote]

Mimi’s Hummus and the Stratford Deli had cameras when they were held up last fall, and now Lark and Ox Cart do, too, as do several businesses that were not targeted, including The Castello Plan and Lea.

“But they’re cameras,” said David of Ox Cart. “All they’ll do is record what happens. Theoretically, it’s a deterrent — but they were hitting places with cameras regardless. Is that gonna stop people from committing crimes? Probably not.”

In addition to installing more cameras within Lea, The Castello Plan, and Mimi’s Hummus, Avi says they have bulked up staff at closing time at Mimi’s to boost security.

“We’re not leaving one guy to close alone again at the restaurant,” Avi said. “We are spending money for that, but we have to do that.”

Avi said he’d like public security cameras to be installed on the street.

“That is something I would be really happy to see,” he said. “The first place it needs to go is Argyle and Cortelyou.”

Public cameras are an expensive endeavor. Although Councilman Matheiu Eugene said he would look into funding such an initiative in November, there have been no announcements since. We reached out to Eugene’s office about advancements regarding the cameras, and David Suarez, a spokesman for Eugene, said he was working on getting information regarding the surveillance.

In the wake of another series of crimes — the murder of an 18-year-old on Flatbush Avenue, a toddler shot on Rugby Road, a mugging on E. 16th Street, a robbery at the Newkirk Plaza Dunkin’ Donuts, and others — Cortelyou’s businesses are eager to double down on their investment in the neighborhood’s security if given the opportunity.

“I’d be happy to donate money to get it done if the city cannot do it alone,” said Avi. “We’d be happy as merchants to help do that.”