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NYC bodega owners offer $5K reward to capture 'Midnight Smashers' after string of ATM heists
By
Phil Corso
Published Jan 9, 2025
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Courtesy of the NYPD
By
Phil Corso
Published Jan 9, 2025
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A rash of burglaries targeting New York City bodegas has led the United Bodegas of America to offer a $5,000 reward for information leading to the capture of the perpetrators.
The crime spree, which the NYPD attributes to a group that bodega owners have dubbed "The Midnight Smashers," has struck 49 locations across more than two dozen precincts in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens between Sept. 19 and Dec. 26, according to authorities.
Police said the thieves have been using stolen vehicles to break into businesses and remove ATMs, among other property. One such incident, captured on video on Dec. 23, involved the group forcibly entering a commercial property at 75-10 31 Ave. in Queens and fleeing with an ATM in an unknown direction. There have been no injuries reported in the incidents.
The UBA, representing the city's bodega owners, held a press conference on Thursday to demand stronger action.
“These attacks are unlike anything we’ve seen before. It’s unacceptable that small business owners, the backbone of our city, are being targeted like this,” said Fernando Mateo, spokesperson for UBA.
UBA President Radhamés Rodríguez echoed the sentiment, saying, “Bodegas are lifelines for many communities, and these criminals are tearing apart our livelihoods and threatening our safety. We demand that the city takes immediate and effective action to protect our businesses.”
The organization called for increased police patrols, better security measures in bodegas and access to self-defense options for business owners.
“These robberies are not just thefts — they’re a direct assault on the livelihoods and safety of New York’s hardworking families. We need immediate action to prevent more victims,” Mateo said.
The NYPD has released footage of one of the incidents and is urging the public to help identify the suspects. Police encouraged anyone with information on these crimes to contact the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS or submit a tip online.
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public safety
Phil Corso
Phil Corso is the evening news editor at WNYC/Gothamist. Got a tip? Email [email protected].
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