Three More Business Break-ins, Precinct Meeting Tonight

At least five small businesses have been victim to a spate of recent burglaries that have taken place throughout the neighborhood in March.

Aji Fusion Sushi (201 5th Avenue between Berkeley Place and Union Street), Culture Yogurt (331 5th Avenue between 3rd and 4th Streets), and Postmark Cafe (326 6th Street between 4th and 5th Avenues) have been added to the list which already includes Acme Wines and Spirits (487 5th Avenue between 11th and 12th Streets) and Athena Mediterranean Cuisine (535 6th Avenue at 14th Street).

In addition, a break-in attempt took place at Loki Lounge (341 2nd Street between 4th and 5th Avenues), however the perpetrator(s) were unable to break through their security.

The current list of break-ins include:

Acme Wines & Spirits (487 5th Avenue) was broken into on Monday, March 21 at approximately 7:15am. Security footage shows one suspect. Owner Donald Killinger told us that the suspect left empty-handed. “It cost me about $800 to repair the door and glass,” he said.

Athena Mediterranean Cuisine (535 6th Avenue) was burglarized on Saturday, March 5 at 5:00am and Wednesday, March 23 at 12:40am. Co-owner Andrea Hiotis explained that $2,000 in cash was taken during the March 5 incident. “They stole from the basement and broke into our cash register. The second time [March 23] they only took some quarters and change.” One suspect was captured on the security camera.

Culture Yogurt (331 5th Avenue) was broken into Sunday, March 27 at approximately 4:00am, according to employee Mariela. $100-$150 was taken. “They couldn’t get in the cash register, but they took our petty cash,” she said. Co-owner Jenny Ammirati said she has spoken with the police, who thinks the individual is the same for at least some of the other incidents. Security footage captured one individual.

Postmark Cafe (326 6th Street) was broken into Sunday, March 27 at approximately 3:30am, according to manager Katie Love. A total of $500 was taken — from both the cash register and office. “We got lucky,” says Love. “They left the laptops.”

Aji Fusion Sushi (201 5th Avenue) was also burglarized, according to Mark Caserta, Executive Director of Fifth Avenue Park Slope Business Improvement District. We have contacted the restaurant but have not received details as of yet.

An NYPD 78th Precinct Community Council Meeting will take place tonight at 7:30pm at the 78th Precinct Station House, 65 6th Avenue at Bergen Street. The monthly meeting is open to all community members, and the burglaries will be discussed tonight. (Please note while this meeting usually takes place on the last Tuesday of every month, it has been switched to Wednesday (tonight) for this month. Please spread the word.)

“The first time they broke through the door in the basement and we made security changes,” says Spiro Hiotis, co-owner of Athena Mediterranean Cuisine. “The second time, they broke through the cement wall to get inside. How do you protect yourself against that?”

Police have not yet responded to our inquiries.