ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Rochester police announced they are investigating five smash-and-grabs that took place throughout the City of Rochester overnight into Tuesday.
One occurred at a Dunkin Donuts on Lake Avenue Monday evening, officers with the Rochester Police Department confirmed. RPD said the suspects crashed a vehicle into the building in an attempt to get inside. The suspects nor the vehicle were at the scene when police arrived, they never made entry into the building, and no property was stolen.
Investigators said they later found an abandoned Hyundai near the scene. The car had damage consistent with that of smashing into a large object, but officers said it’s unclear if it was used at Dunkin Donuts.
They also said the vehicle had damage consistent with a stolen vehicle, but did not confirm if the Hyundai was stolen.
Then at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, RPD responded to Joe’s Quick Mart on West Ridge Road. They said that the suspects used a 2012 Hyundai was used to smash through the front doors before they fled in a Kia. Several items were confirmed stolen from the store.
According to RPD, the Hyundai used here was recovered at the scene with damage consistent of a stolen vehicle. Officers are working to locate who owns the vehicle.
At 4:30 a.m., officers responded to a burglary at Roc 7 Convenience Store on Dewey Avenue. RPD said there was heavy damage to the front of the store and that items were stolen from the store. Police said that, after reviewing security footage, a Hyundai was driven into it while some individuals in a Kia stood by before fleeing.
RPD then responded to Puff Puff Pass Smoke on Driving Park Ave, (also known as the ‘Park Slow’ clothing store). 11 minutes after responding to Roc 7. They said that a Kia and a Hyundai were used to drive into the building and the suspects stole items from inside the store.
Finally, at 4:48 a.m., police responded to My Way Station on Emerson Street. RPD said that, once again, a Hyundai and a Kia were used to break into the store and the suspects stole items before fleeing.
James Burts lives on Dewey and heard a big “boom” Tuesday morning as a car rammed through the glass at Roc 7. He’s assuming it’s young people — and said when he was growing up the goals in life were to get a job, work hard to make something of yourself. He says that’s all changed now— and he wants to know what possesses people to ram a car through a store, steal, and drive away.
“So in some kind of way, we have got to fix this loop where there is this disfunctionality (sic)— there’s a loop somewhere you know? I don’t know where it is I can’t say because I don’t know how many generations are traveling with these kids, or where they come from but it is disfunctionality because this is inhumane for an individual to do something like this, man,” he said.
An anonymous employee of Roc 7 also weighed in telling the smash and grabbers to, “Leave it in the pandemic. It happened in the pandemic: looters all of that, you all had your fun and now it’s just messing with people’s livelihoods.”
Jesus used to own the building ‘Park Slow’ clothing currently occupies. He’s guessing the smash and grab crooks made off with about $500 worth of goods– mostly clothes and hats– but the doors and windows on this place will cost over $5,000 to replace. He said insurance isn’t going to cover it.
“I don’t know what these kids get out of this, you know? They just get a couple of things — and if they catch them they do all these years for a couple hundred dollars that they make that night, it’s not even worth it, they don’t understand. This community sucks, man. I really wanted to move out to Henrietta, or somewhere beautiful. You know, Pittsford, where I don’t have to worry about this– but it sucks you have to leave your own hood, your own community because you can’t take this no more,” said Jesus.
Jesus added, “These boys these days they don’t have any morals, no families, their moms and dads aren’t there for them, so they’re out here doing this.”
Police say it’s currently unclear if these five incidents are connected, however, they are all under investigation. Anyone with information on these incidents is asked to call 911.
Check back with News 8 as we continue to update this developing story.