Suspects Steal $34,000 in Lottery Tickets from Tarrytown Shop
Store owner estimates the loss after initial police reports suggested a much higher value was taken during a two-minute break-in.
By Marco Kapoor ·
Police in Tarrytown are investigating a burglary in which two suspects stole approximately $34,000 in lottery tickets from a South Broadway shop early Saturday morning.
Tarrytown police say the break-in occurred at Tappan Zee Stationery around 4:30 a.m. Surveillance footage shows the two individuals arriving by car and smashing the lower part of the front door with a rock. They rushed inside, grabbed the lottery tickets and a cash drawer, and fled the scene in about two minutes. A third man remained in the vehicle while the theft took place.
Muayed Kassim, the store owner, stated that he arrived shortly after learning of the incident and was shocked by the damage. Kassim noted that the financial burden is particularly heavy for lottery retailers because the store can remain liable for the value of stolen tickets.
Initial police reports indicated that more than $70,000 in tickets had been taken. However, Kassim said that after reviewing the inventory with the New York Lottery, he believes the actual value of the stolen items is closer to $34,000 to $36,000.
The store was scheduled to open about two hours after the break-in. Kassim is now assessing how the business will absorb the financial impact of the loss.
No arrests have been made. Tarrytown police are coordinating with law enforcement agencies in Westchester and neighboring counties to determine if the burglary is linked to similar crimes in the region.
