Albuquerque restaurant stops accepting cash after multiple robberies

[left-of-center2012]

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.-
The employees at 'Burritos Alinstante' in Albuquerque a worried for their safety. The restaurant has continually been targeted by robbers, and workers have been held at gunpoint.

In an attempt to make employees feel safer, the restaurant is no longer accepting cash. "We've had to make that decision in this store because we have been robbed so many times this year," said Mary Ellen Chavez, owner of the restaurant. Chavez said some of the robbers have ordered food and then pulled a gun.

"Once my register opened, he said 'give me all your money, give it all to me' and then followed me with a gun," said Stephanie Sosa, an employee at Burritos Alinstante. "We went to that register. I pulled it out, threw it on the countertop, and he took everything and bolted out."

Employees have had a gun pointed at them three different times, and witnessed other crimes.

Police reports have been filed, however, Chavez has not heard about anyone being caught.

https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/albuquerque-restaurant-stops-accepting-cash-after-multiple-robberies/5949511/

[c-rational]

1. As society unravels due to the pandemic and 40 years of neo-liberal looting, the reThugs throw

holiday parties in DC.

[Ponietz]

3. Local convenience store and the food coop were burglarized at night recently

Small businesses and restaurants closing, and shoplifting at an all-time high, too.

[Blues Heron]

2. Thats a crime problem not a cash problem

We need some responsible policing out there, not do away with cash. Luckily some jurisdictions are making it illegal to not accept cash, and rightly so.

[left-of-center2012]

4. "a cash problem"

Due to the 'coin shortage' my pharmacy now asks you to pay via credit card.

[Blues Heron]

7. Don't they want coins?

Seems like a self fulfilling prophecy there. Didn't realize there was still a coin shortage.

[SoCalNative]

5. Sorry but if a business decides that they do not want to accept cash

it should be their decision, not politicians.

[Blues Heron]

6. It's an access problem, so it falls under the purview of political

It's definitely not to be left up to the businesses

[SoCalNative]

8. It's not an access problem

shop somewhere else if you can't abide by their rules.

[Blues Heron]

9. you can't just make up every last rule you might want

That's why jurisdictions are making it illegal to not accept cash. It already says so on the money - "for all debts, public and private"

Other rules you might not be able to make are "we sell liquor all night long, if you don't like it tough" Nope in many places the liquor stores ALL have to close at a certain hour. Bars - same.

[c-rational]

10. it's a crime problem because people are strapped, i.e. they have no cash; therefore, they go to

places with cash, and as an added bonus food. If we had responsible politicians out there providing needed relief these issues IMO would drop off the chart. We should not have to call the police because people are strapped. Reminds me of Les Miserables.