Family-owned pharmacy in NYC devastated by looters on Monday night
FORDHAM, Bronx (WABC) -- A small, family-owned pharmacy in the Bronx was left in devastation on Monday night, after looters robbed and wrecked the store.
It took the Rodriguez family 14 years to build their successful mom-and-pop pharmacy in the Bronx. But it only took looters minutes to ravage everything they worked so hard to build.
Surveillance video shows a metal gate breeched at 12:36 a.m. on Tuesday morning.
In just a matter of seconds, the glass door is shattered and looters storm Alico Pharmacy on Jerome Avenue.
"I felt so powerless," store owner Andy Rodriguez said. "Watching on cell phone. You can't do anything."
The video shows someone stuffing their pockets, t-shirts and backpacks. Others looters filled baskets.
One man found garbage bags in the basement, while another stopped for a quick drink.
The looters struck gold when they got into the narcotics cabinet, which they wiped clean.
Many of the shelves were filled with prescription medications for heart patients, cancer patients and people who desperately need their medicine.
The surveillance video also shows several people try to smash the cash register.
It was a free for all for drugs, beauty products and toilet paper.
The store was left with trampled medication and broken dreams.
Looters have become so brazen, some didn't even wear a mask for COVID-19.
"We know their families, kids. We been here since 2007," Rodriguez said. "Everybody likes us around here. It's a shame. It's a shame."
Employee, Jennifer Mercedes, says a lot of people have called about their medication, but they can't serve them.
The Rodriguez family owns two pharmacies in the Fordham section of the Bronx. Both were destroyed.
They do not have a price tag for their losses yet, but they do hope to rebuild.
RELATED STORIES:
Tuesday coverage of the George Floyd protests and looting in NYC
NYPD officers attacked amid looting, violence in Bronx
Video shows dramatic post-looting damage in Bronx
In moving show of support, one of NYC's top cops takes a knee, hugs George Floyd protesters
Floyd Mayweather will pay for George Floyd's funeral
Multiple police officers injured when protests turned violent in 2 cities
Manhattan stores hit by looters
Calls for change at peaceful George Floyd protests in Brooklyn
Monday coverage of protests and looting in NYC
SoHo like a war zone after looters go on rampage
Search for vandals who spray painted St. Patrick's Cathedral
Mayor de Blasio's daughter arrested during protests in NYC
----------
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
