Mayor Eric Adams revealed on Sunday that some 500 bodegas across the Big Apple will soon be equipped with panic buttons, although he won’t say which shops would receive them to keep crooks on their toes.
Holding up a panic button outside the Bronx’s Pamela Green Deli, located at 1798 Crotona Ave., Hizzoner said that his administration is making the $1.6 million investment to equip the storefronts with technology that will immediately connect workers with the NYPD in case of an emergency.
“We’re going to have a direct communication to the Police Department, 500 bodegas, $1.6 million that we’re investing in this initiative,” Mayor Adams said. “Instead of just having the cats keep away the rats, we’re going to have a direct connection with the police to keep away those dangerous cats that try to rob our stores.”
Mayor Adams said that he would not reveal which stores they will be placed in to keep potential criminals guessing. He did say the devices will be placed in bodegas with the highest levels of crime to improve staff and customer safety.
Dubbed “SilentShields,” the buttons will both trigger a police response and connect cops to store cameras so they can see incidents as they unfold in real time.
“SilentShields gives workers peace of mind as it also serves as a crime prevention tool. It allows quick response to a potential violent situation for police officers to save lives,” NYPD Chief of Department John Chell said. “Ultimately, it helps keep everyone safe and sends a message.”
Violent assaults on store workers have been a disturbing trend over the last several months. On March 19, amNewYork obtained video of a man stabbing a 24-year-old Harlem bodega worker in the neck with a knife during an attempted robbery.
Earlier this year, on Jan. 5, a gunman opened fire on a 16-year-old boy inside a Brooklyn store.
United Bodega Association spokesperson Fernando Mateo said he would like to see the tech installed right away.
“There’s no reason why we can’t start tomorrow, it’s in the budget,” Mateo said. “That’s what we’re expecting, to start immediately.”
