A video shows 'Midnight Smashers' brazenly removing ATMs from small businesses during a crime spree.

In New York City, a group of thieves has been stealing from small businesses by removing ATMs from the ground with vans and chains or taking them out of stores by hand, as shown in videos.

The United Bodegas of America (UBA) trade group has announced that at least 49 businesses have been robbed during a spree, and they are offering a $5,000 bounty on the bandits. These businesses are often referred to as bodegas, which are convenience stores or small grocery shops in the city.

According to the NYPD, investigators suspect that a group of three individuals is responsible for the thefts, which have been reported in at least 25 of the city's 78 precincts. These thieves are believed to be using stolen cars to commit the crimes.

Radhames Rodriguez, the group's president, told Planet Chronicle Digital that the NYPD's newly announced pursuit policy, which bans police from chasing suspects for non-violent and lower tier crimes, is a mistake and authorities need to go back to fully prosecuting low-level crimes.

"Limiting pursuits to only suspects involved in violent felonies and misdemeanors sends a dangerous message to criminals who commit low-level crimes, as these so-called "minor offenses" are often the breeding ground for more serious crimes, creating a sense of lawlessness and impunity, according to him."

Business owners view the new chase policy as a step backward despite the city's efforts to reduce crime.

"Fernando Mateo, a UBA spokesman, stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that accountability is crucial at every level of criminal activity, and low-level crimes should not be dismissed as insignificant because they can escalate, leading to more serious offenses such as shoplifting and armed robbery."

On Wednesday, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced new vehicular pursuit guidelines to reduce the likelihood of collateral damage.

In 2024, 25% of car chases resulted in a collision, property damage, or injury, and two-thirds of them began with a traffic stop where the suspect fled. However, officers are no longer permitted to pursue under these circumstances.

The new rules restrict officers' car chase activities to serious offenses, including felonies and violent misdemeanors.

"The NYPD must ensure that its enforcement efforts do not put the public or police at risk, and pursuits for low-level crimes can be both dangerous and unnecessary," Tisch stated. "Modern-day policing technology allows for safer and more effective apprehension of criminals, reducing the need for many pursuits."

The ATM thieves remain at large.

According to Joseph Giacalone, a former NYPD sergeant and a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, the new guidelines do not represent a significant change.

"The patrol supervisor has always been responsible for canceling vehicle pursuits based on certain factors, as outlined in the patrol guide, according to the source. However, the New York City Council plans to follow in the footsteps of Chicago and ban all pursuits, including foot pursuits, in the future. It is only a matter of time before this policy is implemented."

Despite the swing back towards a tough-on-crime approach in the U.S., some blue city leaders remain unsupportive.

"The voting may have altered the messaging regarding people's opinions on what they want the police to do in the United States, but the cities remain firmly in the hands of the defend the police, abolitionist crowd," he stated.

The NYPD increased patrols on overnight subway cars after the chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority stated that transit crime was just in people's heads, despite criticism of the department's pursuit policy.

"The NYPD has announced that it will implement an ambitious plan to have two officers on every overnight train in phases. Phase 1 will begin on Monday with the first 100 officers, and additional phases will be rolled out over the coming weeks, with the full operation expected to be complete by the end of the month."

Video footage has been released showing two suspects removing an ATM from a store and stealing another one by tearing down a wall with a chain attached to the back of a van.

Police are asking for the public's help identifying the thieves.

"According to an NYPD spokesperson, between September 19, 2024 and December 26, 2024, there were 49 incidents involving three unidentified individuals who stole vehicles and license plates. These individuals then used the stolen vehicles to travel to commercial establishments where they forcibly entered and removed ATMs and other property before fleeing the locations in various vehicles."