Man dives over counter, steals money from Fordham Bodega
Surveillance video shows the man jump over the counter, snatch money from the register, a cellphone and purse from behind the counter before he takes off.
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The United Bodegas of America is offering a $2,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction of a man who robbed a Fordham bodega.
Surveillance video shows the man jump over the counter, snatch money from the register, a cellphone and purse from behind the counter before he takes off.
According to the United Bodegas of America, the man came into Pena Grocery on the Grand Concourse and asked the employee for empanadas as a distraction.
He waited until the employee was in the back working on his request when he jumped over the counter and stole the money.
The employee realized the items and cash were stolen after the man left the store.
The UBA dubbed the robber the "Amex Scooter Snatcher" due to a black American Express backpack that he was wearing and the scooter he rode.
Fernando Mateo, a spokesperson for the UBA is now urging any bodega owners to always secure their registers, especially during busy hours.
"Bodega owners be on high alert, make sure you remove your cash register from the reach of anyone that reaches over the counter and make sure most importantly that you keep an eye on your cash register," said Mateo.
In a non-violent situation like this one, Mateo is encouraging owners to not use their panic buttons, as those are only for emergencies where an employee feels their life is being threatened.
