Steven Wiebe, a bar owner, has expressed his frustration over the unruly behavior of a basketball team that has been asking for money in his establishment. According to Wiebe, the team would come running into his bar and demand money without permission. “They come running in and say give money to our basketball team, then… grabbing purses or handbags off of chairs and running out,” he said.
Wiebe’s experience highlights a growing trend of aggressive solicitation tactics that are being employed by some basketball teams in the United States. Many bar owners are now finding themselves in a difficult position as they try to balance the needs of their businesses with the demands of these teams.
Despite the challenges, Wiebe is determined to find a solution to the problem. He has reached out to local authorities and is considering implementing new security measures to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
“I just want to run my business and not have to deal with this kind of behavior,” Wiebe said. “It’s not fair to me or my customers, and I won’t tolerate it.”
There has been a recent uptick in thefts at establishments throughout upper Manhattan, where children are brazenly entering bars and absconding with cash and purses.
According to an NYPD insider who spoke with The Messenger, there have been several reports of robberies taking place in bars located on the Upper East and West Sides of Manhattan, as well as in certain areas of Brooklyn.
According to Steven Wiebe, the owner of Amsterdam Ale House, the thefts have been occurring infrequently for the past eight months.
According to Wiebe, some individuals are taking advantage of the basketball team’s fundraising efforts by using it as a cover-up to commit crimes. “They would come barging in, asking for donations for their basketball team, and then take advantage of the situation by stealing purses or handbags left unattended on chairs,” he said. Wiebe further added that he suspects there are adults who are encouraging the children to engage in such criminal activities.
In recent news, Lexington Publick on the Upper East Side had reported a theft of $700 in cash. As per reports, a young boy entered the bar and made his way downstairs where he stumbled upon the money.
After the act of theft was committed, the incident was captured on surveillance video. As a result, the image of the teenager responsible has been posted on the front door. The posted warning serves as a reminder to not return to the premises.
Last August, The Upside Bar on the Upper West Side had $700 in cash stolen. The surveillance footage revealed that a boy had entered the basement of the establishment and found an open safe. The boy walked slowly, indicating that he was trying to avoid detection.
According to Wiebe, the children are incredibly brave and bold. He mentioned that they fearlessly approach his managers and partners, confidently stating that they can do whatever they want because of their age. This level of confidence is truly inspiring and admirable. As Wiebe shared with FOX 5, the children’s fearlessness is a quality that he greatly admires in them.
Authorities in New York City have acknowledged a number of recent occurrences, but their ability to prevent them is limited.
As per a reliable NYPD insider, a majority of these offenses come to light only after they have been committed. However, since these crimes involve minors, it becomes extremely challenging for the authorities to apprehend the perpetrators. The police cannot share the surveillance footage with the public as it could lead to the identification of the minors involved.
According to the source, establishing a link between a juvenile offender and an adult who may be influencing them to commit illegal acts is a challenging task. Obtaining concrete evidence to prove such a connection could pose a significant challenge.
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