Caught on camera: Thief stole safe from 16 Handles in Jericho, owner says
The business owner says he lost about $3,000 that was in the safe and is left to pay for thousands more in repairs.
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The owner of a 16 Handles in Jericho says a thief caused thousands of dollars in damage when they robbed his small business.
Owner Ben Gruber says the suspect broke in through the back door and spent 14 minutes in the store rummaging around. He says the thief grabbed a safe and eventually made his way out on Jericho Turnpike.
Gruber says he lost about $3,000 that was in the safe and is left to pay for thousands more in repairs.
"I bought this place back in 2020, but I started here back in 2017 as a team member," Gruber says. "It's like the American dream and now it's a nightmare."
Gruber says the suspect waited until after he was inside the business for several minutes before pulling a surveillance camera off the wall. The thief then left the DVR that had been recording him where it was.
The business owner says there is some hope because many of his customers recognize the person in the surveillance video.
"Every one of our customers who comes in the store recognizes his face on the wall," Gruber says.
He says he hopes that police will be able to find the suspect and just wants justice.
