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Video Shows Bodega Worker Beaten With Bat; Suspects Make Off With Stolen Beer And Cigarettes

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police are looking for suspects in a violent robbery in a Manhattan Bodega.

Surveillance show two men beating a worker who allegedly tried to stop them from stealing.

As CBS2's Christina Fan reports, surveillance video shows the vicious beating of a 65-year-old worker trying to stop two shoplifters inside Deli and Grill bodega.

The two men repeatedly kick and punch the victim, before one of them runs back into the store to steal more.

This vicious beating, caught on surveillance video, shows a 65-year-old worker trying to stop two shoplifters inside Deli and Grill bodega.
The two men repeatedly kick and punch the victim, before one of them runs back into the store to steal more.

bodega-worker-beaten-suspects
Police are searching for two men they say beat a bodega worker after stealing a case of beer. (Credit: NYPD)

The victim, whose family owns the Lower East Side bodega, was too shaken to speak on camera, but told Fan one of the suspects is actually a frequent customer he's offered store credit to in the past. The victim says for some reason Friday morning, the man decided to steal instead, coming into the store on three separate occasions in half an hour, stuffing items into his pockets. Finally, the victim had enough, and confronted the suspect who was there with another man, and the fight ensued.

Police released still photos of the thieves. The first suspect is in his mid 30s, 160 pounds, with short, black hair and multiple tattoos. The second is also in his mid 30s 190 pounds and was last seen wearing a black du-rag.

Police said the suspects took off heading east on Grand Street. The victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was treated on the scene.

Anyone with information about his attackers is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.

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