Police say a late-May burglary spree in Cypress Hills left one business without its safe and roughly $100,000 in cash, and another short about $2,000 from its register.
According to investigators, the first hit came in the early hours of Tuesday, May 26, at a business near Atlantic Avenue and Crescent Street. Detectives say a man broke in, removed a safe holding about $100,000, and took off on foot toward Atlantic Avenue.
Four days later, on Saturday, May 30, police say the same man forced his way into a second business at 537 Conduit Blvd. and grabbed about $2,000 from the cash register before getting away.
Police Release Images and Description
The NYPD has circulated surveillance stills and a clothing description as it works to track down the suspect tied to the two break-ins. As reported by News 12 Brooklyn, officers say the man was last seen wearing a black baseball cap, a black jacket, and gray pants. Police told the outlet that the biggest haul came when the burglar carried off the safe loaded with $100,000 and ran toward Atlantic Avenue.
Police Ask for Tips
Detectives are asking anyone who might recognize the man or who has relevant camera footage to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers. Tips can be submitted by phone, online, or through the department's digital tip channels, according to NYPD Crime Stoppers, and callers can remain anonymous.
What This Means for Local Businesses
The two thefts, which the NYPD says took place between May 26 and May 30 and followed a similar pattern of breaking into businesses and taking cash, have put local shop owners on alert. Police say the second hit came when the man forced his way into the business at 537 Conduit Blvd. on May 30 and took about $2,000 from the register, per News 12 Brooklyn.
Neighborhood proprietors often keep overnight deposits on site, which can make them tempting targets. Security experts recommend ensuring safes are bolted down, using visible cameras, and moving large deposits to bank drops when possible, steps that can make a stolen safe much harder to remove.
