Inwood businesses report thefts

It was after midnight on Jan. 10 when an unknown number of thieves cut the power just outside Melissa Deli, on Sheridan Boulevard in Inwood, broke the back door to get in, and took the store’s ATM and surveillance camera, according to the deli’s manager, Jose Rodriguez.
Rodriguez said that he has since stepped up his security measures. “We added a third door after this happened, inside the entrance, and replaced the camera,” he said. “We don’t know how much money they took, exactly, but they made sure to take the ATM and the camera.”
In the past month, at least three Inwood businesses have been robbed — Melissa Deli, Herman’s Deli and Claudia Family Laundromat, all located along Sheridan Boulevard — raising concern among business owners and residents. Along with those businesses, thieves attempted to rob Sobol’s Beer Distribution and Inwood Financial as well.
The robbers have been striking in the early morning hours, generally between 2 and 4 a.m., according to the business owners. The main power lines have been cut, and storeowners have been told by police who responded to the scene that it appears that torches were used to open the ATMs and take the money inside.
Inwood Financial, a check-cashing business, was nearly robbed at about 2 a.m. on Jan. 15, according to Patty Vacchio, an employee and an Inwood resident. She said that the would-be thieves cut two of the four power lines, but were probably scared away by another employee who was working at the time.
“Someone was in there and actually turned a light on and scared them away,” Vacchio said. “I’m extremely concerned, not only due to the crime involved, but the seriousness that these are clearly professionals, not some everyday drug fiend crime. Not that one is better or worse than the other, but I’m not sure if this situation holds more weight of danger.”
No one has been reported injured during the robberies, but Vacchio said she was concerned that if the perpetrators weren’t caught, someone could be.