Owner of NYC grocery store chain Gristedes hires security guards to crack down on shoplifting

New York’s crime problem is so bad now that the head of the city’s largest supermarket chain announced on Thursday that he is hiring extra security to crackdown on thieves, after a 50 percent spike in shoplifting that the woke Manhattan District Attorney is determined to ignore. 

John Catsimatidis, owner and CEO of the Gristedes/D’Agostino’s, told DailyMail.com that he has become so frustrated with the authorities doing nothing to solve the problem that he is taking it upon himself. 

He says he has noticed a 50 percent spike in shoplifting across his stores in the last year, costing him ‘several million’ dollars. 

In an interview with DailyMail.com on Thursday, Catsimatidis said the thieves are not hungry homeless vagrants in need of meals or basic hygiene products, but are ‘professional criminals’ who often travel to New York City from other states where they wouldn’t get away with the crimes. 

‘I love New York City and it has got to survive. We have got to put our foot down to make sure that it does survive. Enough is enough,’ he said. 

Catsimatidis will hire dozens of retired NYPD officers and security guards to stand in the doorways of his stores and sit in cars parked outside to deter thieves. He was vague on if they would become physical with anyone attempting to shoplift, and said they’ll do ‘whatever they have to do’ to protect customers and staff. 

Gristedes owner John Catsimatidis on Thursday announced that he is hiring dozens of security guards to deter shoplifters from his 30 Manhattan stores, where shoplifting has increased by 50 percent

Catsimatidis told DailyMail.com thieves will steal anything that isn't locked up and will sell it for bootleg prices at nearby bodegas

Catsimatidis told DailyMail.com thieves will steal anything that isn’t locked up and will sell it for bootleg prices at nearby bodegas 

There are more than 30 Gristedes and D'Agostino grocery stores around Manhattan and Brooklyn. The CEO says the shoplifting problem is 'everywhere'

There are more than 30 Gristedes and D’Agostino grocery stores around Manhattan and Brooklyn. The CEO says the shoplifting problem is ‘everywhere’ 

Crime in New York City is up in almost every major category and many say it is giving criminals 'license' to offend

Crime in New York City is up in almost every major category and many say it is giving criminals ‘license’ to offend

He blames bail reforms and the woke new policies of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg – who says he won’t prosecute some crimes and will downgrade others – for the uptick in shoplifting.

Robberies have spiked 34.9 percent year-on-year, and petit larceny – which Bragg is now downgraded many of shoplifters’ charges to – has risen by 23.3 percent in the same time period. Overall, crime is up a shocking 41.65 percent.

‘Because of the new bail laws that you’re not allowed to arrest people for these things, they’re coming in from other states like New Jersey and committing the crimes,’ Catsimatidis said.

‘If they don’t get caught they go home for dinner, and even if they go get caught they still go home for dinner!

‘This is just plain common sense. I don’t play politics – I have always said, I’m pro common sense among Republicans and Democrats. All I want is for common sense to prevail.’ 

He added: ‘These thieves feel like they have a license from these district attorneys who pretty much say to them “do whatever you want.” 

‘Some of them are actually going into court with their lawyers and bringing out the manifesto that Alvin Bragg put down on his second day on the job.’ 

Chrys Paliophilos, manager of Gristedes on 2nd Avenue in Murray Hill, said the shoplifting is at its worst

Chrys Paliophilos, manager of Gristedes on 2nd Avenue in Murray Hill, said the shoplifting is at its worst

The thieves have been stealing Haagen-Dazs and selling it on to bodegas for half the price

The thieves have been stealing Haagen-Dazs and selling it on to bodegas for half the price

Catsimatidis has hires former NYPD officers to stand in the store doorways and sit in cars outside his 30 Manhattan stores as a deterrent. 

Under a wildly liberal New York City law, store security guards are not legally permitted to physically confront shoplifters. 

Some store owners also told DailyMail.com in the past that the have been advised not to report thefts worth under $500. 

‘We are here to protect our customers, to protect our employees. That is of paramount importance.’ 

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg who has told prosecutors to avoid cash bail and downgrade some robberies

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg who has told prosecutors to avoid cash bail and downgrade some robberies 

He said of the decision to hire beefed up security guards: ‘It’s like having football players in the store. If a person is running out with stolen goods and hits a football player, where’ she going to go? 

‘Those guards are going to do whatever they have to do to keep our customers safe.’ 

Chrys Paliophilos, Manager of Gristedes on 2nd Avenue, Manhattan, said: ‘I’ve been working here 40 years, it’s the worst I’ve seen. Before they used to be scared and say “please don’t call the cops”, now they don’t care, they say “call the cops”. 

‘The police just make them put the merchandise back.’ 

The most commonly-stolen items are expensive items that the thieves then resell to bodegas or on the street. 

‘They’re stealing things that they can then flip to other people for half the price. A few years ago, we made headlines around the world after offering $5,000 rewards for information on people stealing Häagen-Dazs ice cream. 

‘In the end, the guy’s brother turned him in.

‘Really, [the thieves] are just out for a quick buck. It is not as if they are hungry and are stealing something to eat. They’re professional thieves,’ Catsimatidis said. 

He is among a growing number of New Yorkers who exasperated with the increasingly laxed bail reforms. 

‘In November’s elections, we need to be asking if people are pro-criminals or pro-civilization in the streets. 

‘There are 8.5million people in New York City and maybe 3,000 criminals. If you put the criminals on Rikers Island, the 8.5million are happy,’ he said.