Taco stand employees thwart armed robbery and detain suspect

In New York City, a robbery crew has been on a crime spree that lasted three months, targeting various stores across Upper Manhattan, The Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. This series of robberies began on September 19, 2024, and continued until December 26, 2024. During this time, police reported that the group, comprised of three unidentified suspects, managed to steal ATMs and make off with cash, amounting to tens of thousands of dollars. By September, authorities noted that $40,000 in cash was taken from just two robberies, highlighting the scale of these thefts. The suspects carried out their criminal acts by forcibly removing the ATMs from inside the stores, loading them into getaway vehicles that were also reportedly stolen, thus raising concerns about the effectiveness of current security measures. The NYPD released surveillance footage, hoping to gather public assistance in identifying and capturing the suspects, as no arrests had been made by the end of December. The string of burglaries is part of a larger concern for city officials, as the New York Police Department reported a total of 12,923 burglaries citywide as of the end of December 2024. This figure represented a 6% drop from the previous year, although police were still grappling with these alarming incidents. Authorities have emphasized the need for increased surveillance and crime prevention measures amid the spate of robberies, as public safety remains a high priority for city residents and officials alike. The troubling pattern of these robberies underscores rising challenges in urban crime, particularly involving organized groups that target vulnerable establishments for quick cash grabs.