A store located in Queens, New York, just 13 blocks from 17 different migrant shelters, is facing a financial crisis it “won’t survive” due to a surge in shoplifting incidents since the arrival of these migrants.
Chris Sciacco, the owner of Kiaya’s Pallets in Long Island City, expressed his concerns in an interview with the New York Post, stating that his store has been targeted up to six times a week by individuals attempting to steal various items.
“It’s not fair that these people can come into my store and steal willy-nilly and nothing gets done about it,” Sciacco said. His store, which offers a wide range of products including food, clothing, electronics, and more, has become a frequent target for theft. Sciacco estimated that the shoplifting incidents are costing him at least $3,000 a month.
“It’s affecting the business and affecting our overhead,” he explained. “I don’t know if we can continue to survive at this rate.”
Sciacco mentioned that if the rampant crime continues, he will have no choice but to cancel his lease: “I am barely getting by. I don’t see how I can continue at this rate.”
Kiaya’s Pallets has been open since 2021 and, during its first year, experienced only three thefts. Two of those incidents involved individuals who appeared to be homeless, and they only stole small items like candy bars. However, since the nearby migrant shelters opened, theft has become a daily occurrence, with both small and large items being regularly stolen.
In one instance, Sciacco recounted, a customer stole something, prompting him to call the NYPD six times and wait over eight hours without a single officer responding.
“I also tried to flag down over 30 cop cars on the street and not one stopped to help me or even see what was wrong,” he complained. When he visited a police precinct to report the thefts in person, he was dismissed by an officer and told to “hire security.”
In an effort to combat the thefts, Sciacco has created a “wall of shame” in his store, displaying photos of thieves and the items they have stolen. Despite these efforts, the continuous shoplifting is placing a significant strain on his business, raising concerns about its future viability.
The situation at Sciacco’s store comes as New York City has continued to grapple with unsustainable levels of illegal immigrants in the city.
