NYC Mayor Eric Adams wants to ban face masks in stores to reduces thefts

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is asking business owners to order patrons to remove their face masks when entering businesses to reduce shoplifting.

Adams appeared on the PIX11 Morning News on Monday and called on business owners to stop patrons wearing masks to enter the store. But once inside, they can put their mask back on.

He pointed out that having shoppers remove their masks upon entering stores will lead to their identity being captured on camera in case a crime does occur.

Adams pointed out that thieves are exploiting the safety of the COVID-19 pandemic by wearing masks and committing crimes.

‘Let’s be clear. Some of these characters going into stores that are wearing a mask, they’re not doing it because they are afraid of the pandemic,’ he said.

‘They’re doing it because they’re afraid of the police, and we need to stop allowing them to exploit the safety of the pandemic by wearing masks, committing crimes.’ 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is asking business owners to order patrons to remove their face masks when entering businesses in an effort to reduce shoplifting

It was advised by city officials and mandated by many businesses that New Yorkers wear masks in public, enclosed places when COVID hit three years ago. For many establishments now, masks indoors are optional. 

But now Adams wants New Yorkers to show their entire face when entering a business.  

‘We are putting out a clear call to all of our shops, do not allow people to enter the store without taking off their face mask,’ Adams said.

‘Once they’re inside, they can continue to wear it if they so desire to do so, but we need to use the technology we have available to identify those shoplifters and those who are committing serious crimes.’

It was not clear how this will be carried out or what will happen if a patron refuses to remove their mask and it leads to a confrontation. 

Adams visits the scene of the crime at a jewelry store robbery in Flushing, Queens. He says he wants New Yorkers to show their entire face when entering a business

However, Adams pointed out that this might reduce shoplifting and robbery crimes and even murder

However, Adams pointed out that this might reduce shoplifting and robbery crimes and even murder.

‘You saw what happened over the weekend when an innocent store owner was shot and killed,’ he told PIX11. ‘The person had a hazmat suit on and a mask. He wasn’t trying to protect himself from the pandemic.’ 

The hazmat-suit-clad gunman shot and killed a bodega worker at the Daona Deli on East 81st Street and Third Avenue on the Upper East Side during a robbery late Friday night.

The gunman shot the 67-year-old victim in the head and then fled on a scooter south on Third Avenue. Police believe he turned up in the Bronx about a half hour later, where he held up a Yaya Deli clerk at gunpoint. Nobody was injured in that incident. 

Police say the two incidents are connected and were both carried out by a gunman in a white, Tyvek hazmat suit and a black mask.

Surveillance photo of the suspect, right, wanted for killing the 19-year-old cashier while robbing the fast food eatery for just $100

Bayron-Nieves moved to New York from Puerto Rico two years ago. She had only recently obtained her GED 

On PIX11 News Monday morning, Adams noted the recent decrease in crime after it spiked and then leveled off during the pandemic. 

 Last month NYPD revealed a 5.6 percent drop in major crimes for February compared to the same last year, including 11 fewer murders compared with 2022.

Rapes were down by 10.5 percent, robberies were down two percent, shootings were down 11.2 percent and murders 16.9 percent.

Felony assaults were up 11.2 percent in 2023 – 3,780 incidents compared to 3,398 seen in 2022.