‘They took everything they could get:’ Owners of Fordham Road pawn shop pick up the pieces after burglary

As businesses are allowed to reopen for curbside pick-up, one shop in the Bronx is picking up the pieces after being vandalized and burglarized by looters last week.

News 12 Staff

Jun 9, 2020, 4:44 PM

Updated 1,584 days ago

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As businesses are allowed to reopen for curbside pick-up, one shop in the Bronx is picking up the pieces after being vandalized and burglarized by looters last week.
Amid national unrest, businesses in Fordham were vandalized and broken into, including ColdCash, Inc.,a family-owned pawn shop.
"Driving up to Fordham Road gives us all massive anxiety. We still go to bed with nightmares. My mom in the hospital, can't sleep,” says Jessalyn Shen.
Jessalyn Shen, the owners’ daughter says she will never forget the moment they received a security alert about a break in at their jewelry store.
"When we got here it was complete chaos. Streets were on fire and we had no idea,” says Shen.“As we were inside trying to secure everything. A second wave came, and they flooded into the store as we were in there, and they took everything they could get."
They watched looters break through the bullet proof glass and metal gates. Jessalyn, her boyfriend and parents made a run for it, with a box of merchandise in hand. That’s when Shen says a group followed them to their car.
"They smashed the window, they smashed the doors, jumped on top of the car and started to pull us out,” says Shen.
She says the looters went after her 68-year-old mother, Wendy. She was left with a broken femur and broken nose after being attack with crowbars and pipes.
The families managed to get away and get to police.
The store was left damaged, including a door completely shattered. The owners tell News 12 that three safes were also broken into. Inside there was about $80,000 worth of jewelry.
Jerry Shen, one of owners, says his wife started this business 20 years ago.
"How do we get back from this. It will probably take forever. In the meantime, will I be safe trying to get everything in order?” says Shen.
To help customers recover their losses and start to rebuild their store, a GoFundMe page was set up.
"It’s long road for recovery for us. Physically and emotionally,” says Shen.