A surveillance video released by the NYPD Thursday shows a woman stealing money from a 7-year-old boy inside a deli in the Bronx.
The child was attempting to pay for fruit in the store on Jerome Avenue at around 11:40 a.m. on September 24, when a woman took his money, police reported. In the video, the woman can be seen opening the door to the store and talking to the boy before grabbing his money right out of his hands.
The boy’s mother reportedly attempted to stop the woman, but as the video shows, the suspect punched her in the face, officials say. EMS treated the boy’s mother at the scene, according to the NYPD.
Police say the suspect was last seen fleeing the scene heading northbound toward East 170th Street.
Eric Vidals, the co-owner of the grocery store, told CBS New York employees had seen the woman around the area in the past, but they have not seen her since the incident. While he reported she only got away with a few dollars, he says can’t remember the last time there was an incident like that in the store’s 27-year history.
“She’s always outside asking for money. That’s the only thing she does, but you know, that day, she just snatched the money from the little kid. It was insane,” he said.
Anyone with information can submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
