Corn Hill business owner speaks out after repeated break-ins, calls for action

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A suspect was caught on security camera breaking into the Corn Hill Exchange Market in Rochester.

The video shows the suspect breaking the lock on the store’s front door before making his way inside. The owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, says the suspect quickly took cigarettes and other merchandise before breaking into several neighboring businesses.

“I woke up at two in the morning and I get an alarm notice on my phone, so I rushed over here and I didn’t realize that this person was able to unlock the door without a key,” he said.

The store owner says he has replaced broken doors and shattered glass three times over the past few months.

“I also have a lot of teenage kids running in and grabbing stuff and running out. I’m just getting tired of nothing being done about it,” the store owner said. “… I don’t know who they are, but I think that something needs to be done. These people need to be held accountable

Tuesday’s break-in was just the latest in a string of burglaries at his store, the owner says. He believes more needs to be done to catch those responsible. He just wants the thefts to stop and the crooks caught.

The owner says Rochester Police arrived shortly after the break-in but by that time, the burglar was gone. RPD confirmed it is investigating. Police are in fact investigating a few burglaries that have taken place in Corn Hill Center over the past week.

Different security video shows another business break-in at the same shopping center last Sunday.

But some say they are surprised by reports of crime in the area.

“I feel very safe so if that’s an issue — maybe, mainly at night time? Maybe they need to patrol more at night time,” Diane O’Neil said.

Walking her dog along Corn Hill Landing, O’Neil says she loves coming to the area from Pittsford and was surprised to hear about what has been going on.

“It’s ebbs and flows. It ebbs, gets worse in the summertime. It does, who wants to go out in the winter time?” she said.

No matter the cause, store owners just want there to be a solution.

“The whole community needs to get together and find out a solution,” the Corn Hill Exchange Market owner said. “What do we need to do to stop this happening? Because people get discouraged about having a business. nobody wants to be robbed or harassed or intimidated by these people.”

News10NBC will have more on this story, including additional security video and reaction from the area, tonight in the 11 p.m. broadcast. This story will be updated.

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