New York's crime problem is so bad now that the head of the largest supermarket chain announced on Thursday he is hiring extra security to crackdown on thieves, after a 50 percent spike in shoplifting that the woke 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
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
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.
'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.
'If they don't get caught they go home for dinner, and even if they go get caught they still go home for
