Boerum Hill Merchants Fight Crime

Sine Hjort, the owner of , a boutique on Bond Street in Boerum Hill, is leading an effort to bring together local merchants against crime in the neighborhood. 

"In the beginning we had regular shoplifting, where people come in and take things, not only for themselves, but...to resell," said Hjort. "But then, last summer, we started to have incidents where people would actually come in and put a knife to someone and lock them in the bathroom. We had one woman who was tied up in the back of the store. That just takes it to a different level."

Hjort, along with several other business owners in the neighborhood, feel that some of these incidents could have been avoided if merchants were able to communicate with each other about suspicious activity.

"In some cases, this was an individual that was just walking around the neighborhood, and other stores picked up that something was not good" said Hjort. "Looking back at it we realized that, had we had a social network, had we had a way to communicate, we could have prevented some of these things."

As for the police, Hjort doesn't think they can be expected to take care of every issue at once.

"We do have police presence up here," said Hjort. "But they are not always available right in the moment we need them."

The group, called "Brooklyn Merchants Against Crime" (B-MAC), is going to use email, texting, Facebook and Twitter to send out real-time alerts about suspicious activities taking place in the neighborhood. Hjort said that many businesses have surveillance cameras, so it is easy to take a take video footage or photos to share in the alerts.

Retailers who have already joined the group include  and , both on Atlantic Avenue. 

"I think it's important as a business owner for us all to be in contact and have a safety net," said Pamela Johnson, owner of The Banquet. Johnson was the victim of a crime last summer, when a man came in and threatened her with a sharp object.

"He was in three or four stores prior to ours," she said. Johnson firmly believes that the crime could have been prevented if the store owners had contacted each other. 

"As women in these stores alone, we are like sitting ducks," Johnson said. "We need to be in touch."

B-MAC urges other merchants to join the group, and everyone is welcome as long as they commit to a few simple guidelines, such as raising awareness through B-MAC signage, limiting the amount of cash on their premises, and cooperating with local authorities. 

Hjort emphasized the importance of a welcoming atmosphere in stores, and maintaining a close relationship with the community.

"We want to give ourselves a sense of security," she said. "And at the same time, make this a really great shopping area where the customers have a good experience and where they can get in and out of stores."

Retailers who are interested in the program can send an email for more information to B-MACinfo@junipergalaxy.com, or call 718-643-6867.