United Bodegas of America offers $5,000 reward to find people responsible for Bed-Stuy robbery

At least 50 panic buttons have already been installed in bodegas in high-crime areas.

Morgan Scott

Apr 29, 2025, 9:40 PM

Updated 41 min ago

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The bodega community is up in arms after four men were caught on camera robbing a Bed-Stuy deli.
Panic buttons in all bodegas across the city, is what the United Bodegas of America organization is calling for from city and state officials.
A spokesperson for the organization said having the button in the Bed-Stuy deli, would have made a difference in the recent robbery, where four men dressed in fake NYPD jackets terrorized employees and customers with zip ties and a gun.
“Enough is enough,” said Fernando Mateo, spokesperson for the UBA. “Gov. Hochul, where is the $5 million you promised us for security?"
With the ability to send real-time camera surveillance in the store to police, Mateo said the button would be protecting employees and likely putting the criminals behind bars right away.
“We don’t deserve these kinds of robberies,” said Mateo. “Bodegas are community centers. They help the community, and in most cases, these bodegas are lifelines.”
At least 50 panic buttons have already been installed in bodegas in high-crime areas.
The UBA is offering a $5,000 reward for any information that would help lead to an arrest of the four suspects, which it claims stole a bag full of lottery tickets, possibly mistaking that for cash.