A routine Sunday shift turned violent for one Brooklyn retail worker when an attempted shoplifting spiraled into a stabbing.
Around 11:48 a.m. on October 5, a 30-year-old employee at a Family Dollar store on Flatlands Avenue in East New York tried to intervene as someone attempted to steal from the store, according to police and sources. Instead of backing down, the suspect slashed the worker in the arm before fleeing the scene.
The victim, whose name has not been released, was taken by ambulance to Brookdale Hospital and is currently listed in stable condition.
The Family Dollar location was quickly shut down following the incident. A handwritten sign taped to the front window read, “Due to an earlier incident, we will remain closed for the rest of today. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.” The store is expected to reopen Monday.
As of now, no arrests have been made, and the investigation is still ongoing.
This latest act of retail violence is part of a disturbing trend in New York City. Just days ago, a 64-year-old market worker in Columbus Circle died after a struggle with a would-be thief over a six-pack of Heineken. In another recent case, two deli workers in Brooklyn fatally beat a man with a baton during a scuffle. And back in July, a Times Square CVS clerk fatally stabbed a man who attacked him while trying to shoplift.
Retail workers across the city are increasingly caught in the crosshairs of violent confrontations, often while just trying to do their jobs. As shoplifting incidents rise, so do concerns over safety — for both staff and shoppers.
