A Queens groom says his wedding day turned from celebration to crime scene, with thieves allegedly targeting both his family’s food-vendor business and the East Elmhurst home he shares with relatives. The family says six pushcarts were taken from a warehouse in Bayonne, N.J., while burglars rifled through their Queens house as the ceremony was under way, in what the Bakrs describe as a coordinated theft that left the newlyweds and their relatives scrambling to recover equipment and valuables they rely on for income.
Warehouse And Home Hit During Wedding
Bakr told reporters that six of the family’s pushcarts were stolen from a storage site in Bayonne and that the Bayonne Police Department is investigating the thefts. The family later said surveillance video showed people entering their East Elmhurst home shortly after the wedding began, and that items including equipment and personal property were taken. These details were reported by NY1.
How The Cart Led To Arrests
Adham Bakr said the brothers recognized one of their stolen pushcarts during a visit to a city Department of Health inspection site in the Bronx and called police, who arrested three men at the scene. “It’s supposed to be the happiest day of my life,” Basel Bakr told reporters, saying the theft spoiled the celebration. The family says roughly $500,000 to $600,000 in jewelry was taken and that they are offering a $10,000 reward for information, according to NY1.
Arrests, Arraignment And Charges
NYPD officials identified the suspects as 38-year-old Ali Sohby, 43-year-old Mahmoud Ahmed and 23-year-old Mohamed Ibrahim. The Bronx District Attorney’s Office said the three were arraigned on charges including criminal possession of stolen property and entered not guilty pleas; the office has not released further details. For updates from prosecutors see the Bronx District Attorney's Office.
Small Business Hit Hard
For pushcart vendors, carts and cooking equipment are often the business’s most valuable assets, and their loss can shut down days or weeks of income. The Bakrs say the theft stripped the family of tools they use to support themselves and that they have been trying to locate the remaining five carts. Bayonne authorities are the lead investigators on the warehouse theft; municipal contacts and resources are listed on the City of Bayonne website.
Next Steps
All three defendants pleaded not guilty and are due back in court in June, the family and prosecutors said. The Bakrs say they hope the reward and video footage will help return their equipment and valuables so the business can get back on its feet.
