By Dan Murphy
Macy’s stores across the country have fallen victim to ‘Snatch and Grab’ shoplifting thefts, primarily consisting of perfume, jewelry and designer bags. On May 2, reports claim that the Macy’s at the Cross County Center in Yonkers has had a series of recent robberies at the anchor store of the oldest outdoor shopping center in the US.
News 12 reported that the thefts occured around the time that Macy’s opens during the week–11am, and the most recent reported robbery had the theives taking $2500 in perfume, with two similar thefts occuring at the same store recently. Yonkers Police are investigating but have not commented publicly on the Macy’s incidents.
For those of us who have shopped Macy’s for most of our lives, (I grew up at the Macy’s in Parkchester in the Bronx, and now at the Macy’s in the Jefferson Valley Mall), the department store has a large variety of men’s and women’s purfumes and fragrances.
Most of the colognes and perfumes and behind the counter and require employee assistance. But there are also many gift sets that are out on the countertops. These gift sets now sell for $100-$150, and would be easier for the crooks to take 20 of them and walk out with more than $2000 in merchandise.
It’s sad to see Macy’s under attack because of all of the difficulties the store had in staying alive during the pandemic. Help Macy’s survive if you can. The Macy’s in NYC opened in 1858, and of course Macy’s sponsors the fireworks on July 4 and the Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Yonkers Rising columnist Eric Schoen has reported on other snatch and grab shopliftings in Yonkers. One at the TJ Maxx at the Mall at Cross County, which is a different retail building next to the Cross County Center. Schoen also witnessed shoplifters running out with as much as they can hold at the CVS on Bronx River Road.
Last year, the Yonkers City Council heard from Pharmacies on South Broadway who were finding it extremely difficult to keep their shelves open because of the rampant shoplifting and senior citizens were complaining that when they went shopping at the of the retain chain pharmacies, there usual items were gone.
ACME on McLean Avenue and Stop n Shop at the Cross County Center, both have hired Yonkers off duty Police Officers to stand near the exits to discourage shoplifters.
For most retail businesses, the more valuable to good that they are selling, the more likely a theft might occur. The Louis Vuitton store at the Westchester in White Plains had a theft if February that went viral.