Police say they are searching for a man they say is at the center of at least 21 break-ins across Brooklyn stores closed during the coronavirus pandemic.
The owner of Central Organic Deli says the suspect used a brick to smash through the store’s front door on April 22, around 7:20 a.m.
The deli, which has been working limited hours, is one of 21 others hit since mid-March.
Surveillance video shows a man sitting on a bench outside of the deli and then taking a brick from his lap to break through the front door.
The surveillance video also shows the man climbing through the broken glass. Once the man is inside, the owner tells News 12 cigarettes, cash, and pork rinds amongst other random deli items were stolen.
The owner did not want to go on camera but said that this was the second time his store was broken into during the pandemic.
He tells News 12 the man seen on video was wearing a gray hoodie, red pants, black sneakers, and white gloves with a white mask.
He says the suspect rode off on a bike after breaking into the store. Police say the burglaries have a common thread. The suspect breaks into a store’s door or glass window and once inside, he takes similar items like jewelry, liquor and electronics.
He's stolen $4,000 in total. The owner of the deli is sounding the alarm to other businesses in the area, asking them to be concerned and prepared.