Children are allegedly stealing from a series of New York City bars, including Amsterdam Ale House at 340 Amsterdam Avenue (at 76th St.), which was recently victimized by a boy no older than 10, according to a New York Post report.
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What’s more, they are harassing and mouthing off to employees mid raid, with Amsterdam Ale House owner Jacob Rabinowitz telling the Post a recent thief “said he was going to beat my ass” after Rabinowitz chased the boy away.
“The police can’t arrest me,” the boy allegedly told Rabinowitz. “I’m just a kid.”
The young thieves have been running rampant across the city with reports of burglaries coming from multiple bars throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. Another Upper West Side bar, The Upside at 588 Amsterdam (at 89th St.), had $600 reportedly stolen from a safe by a child on August 13. Chick Chick on W. 90th St., Lexington Publick on the UES, and Stone Street Tavern in the Financial District have also reported recent incidents.
According to another Post report, the kids initially ask for money for their sports teams. And on multiple occasions, adults have been observed waiting outside.
“When they go out, there’s either a man or a woman waiting for them and directing,” Rabinowitz said.
A particularly brazen incident occurred earlier this year at Amsterdam Ale House when a pair of kids stole items from unattended bags. The pair reportedly then stole food off a table, pushed a customer and wielded a knife before punching the bar manager.
“I went to escort him out and he cursed at me,” the manager, Whitney Kaufman, told the Post. “The 8-year-old turned around and said to me, ‘I don’t have to do anything you say fat lady’ and punched me in the stomach.”
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The thieves have also targeted employee offices, often entering establishments and heading straight for the basement.
A child caught on surveillance cameras on the staircase to the basement at Lexington Publick, located at 97th and Lexington Avenue
Here, he can be seen making sure the coast is clear.
A police spokesperson told the Post they were investigating the recent incidents, but Rabinowitz expressed frustration with a lack of progress.
“We small business owners are feeling overwhelmed by this constant barrage of petty theft,” Rabinowitz said. “It seems impossible to keep them away, and it’s frustrating that nothing is being done about it.”
Don’t let the kids in the restaurant/bar without being accompanied by an adult. Hold the kids in the restaurant/bar until the cops come. Call DCS, get the parents to physically pick their child up, and then make the parents responsible for the crime and arrest them. Too much? Not in my opinion.
Those are all reasonable suggestions.
Agreed. But also arrest Fagin and Co.
More than 20 years ago, I experienced the following at a narrow upscale restaurant on the Upper East side– 6 or more young boys came running into the place and stole utensils, napkins and plates. They came and went in about minute.It seems that the horrible activity has come back big time. Maybe restaurants should hire tall, large guards at doors to capture some of those thieves. Probably a organized group.
These kids have been raised and trained by adults to do what they are doing. They have been instructed to be aggressive, to intimidate and to steal. Now they are kids… In the near future they will be adults and their crimes will escalate.
This must be stopped. They must catch them and charge the adults in charge of them, because those adults are child abusers.
Charge the adults their parents! And call CPS ! They may not go to jail but this is egregious!! They are being trained by adults to do this!
Why are they allowed in bars? They should be told to leave as soon as they walk in the door. We think it’s cute to have kids in a bar? jIt’s kind of easy. Just say- get out. You’re ten. You’re not old enough to drink. Get out. Don’t let them stay and scam other customers.By the way, wouldn’t bar owners be held liable for letting youngsters into theor establishments?
Just don’t let them in! Kick them out and call the cops,
Any person under 30 walks by gets beaten with a bat- just like their parent shoulda done years ago.
Spare the bat, create a rat!
Prison time for these delinquents. We do not tolerate thieves in our Neighborhood.
Kick these little shits to the curb, where their “parents” are waiting for them. I’m so sick of these stories about this garbage coming into stores, restaurants, bars, and just taking what they want. Earn your way in this world, the way those of us who patronize those places do. It’s not literally a free country, idiots.
Box their ears .. call the parents and have them
Arrested for neglect. Parents should know where their kids are …and give the Kids a good scare .. handcuff and spend a night on jail.
Honestly there’s nothing wrong with a good old Italian smack upside the head to get you back on track…
You cannot detain them because they are children says the law. Certainly cannot strike them. You cannot even follow them. These bars have many outside tables where a lot of the theft takes place as well is one of the bigger issues. No “bouncer” or security type person can even legally touch these children. That is the issue