Robbers target Detroit liquor store again, and again

Thieves smash hole in wall for 3rd recent robbery of store

DETROIT – The Van Dyke Liquor Store on Detroit's east side has been hit by robbers again.

It was about 4:30 a.m. Thursday when security cameras at the store, at Van Dyke and Harper Avenues, recorded two masked men using a sledgehammer to smash through a wall.

Once inside, they used a crowbar to open a cash register. They used the sledgehammer to break open a safe, and they made off with cigarettes as well.

Store owner Steve Bahouri listed what was taken.

"They took my gun, they took about $4,500 cash, they took about 40 cartons of cigarettes," Bahouri said.

The gun was taken from the store's safe.

"I'm not worried about the gun, but I worry about people. I don't want them to hurt anyone with my gun," Bahouri said.

This is the third time thieves have smashed through a wall to get into the store.

Bahouri said he has thought about spending nights at the store to help catch the thieves.  He is offering a $2,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.

The store has been at the site for 20 years. Bahouri said it has been robbed about 40 times.

He said it might be time to go.


About the Author:

Priya joined WDIV-Local 4 in 2013 as a reporter and fill-in anchor. Education: B.A. in Communications/Post Grad in Advanced Journalism