EAST WILLIAMSBURG — A man trying to steal bath products from a home goods store on Grand Street punched a store clerk and threatened workers with a box cutter when confronted, according to local police.
Joseph Jones, 50, entered Save On Grand, a bed and bath supply store at 686 Grand St., on Dec. 18 just before 2:00 p.m, police said. A woman walked into the store with him and while one of them tried to block the camera, the other stuffed a container of Gain laundry detergent, Lysol spray, a box of women's sanitary pads and a bar of Irish Spring soap into a shopping cart, according to officials.
When the two started to leave the store a 20-year-old clerk followed them outside and asked for the products back, police said.
“Get away from her,” Jones yelled, then punched the clerk in the face, police said.
When another 21-year-old worker rushed toward the confrontation, Jones whipped out a box cutter and fled with the woman, police said.
Jones was arrested four days after the incident on charges of robbery, assault and weapons possession. He was ordered held on $15,750 bail and was still incarcerated at Rikers as of Thursday, according to Department of Correction records. No information about his lawyer was immediately available.
A 42-year-old woman was also arrested, police said. Her name was not released and it was not immediately clear if she would face charges.
"It's nothing serious, thank God," said Ahmad Mohmed, one of the owners of Save on Grand. Mohmed added that the incident could have easily become more life-threatening. "[It's] scary, he could have stabbed one of the them,"
He added that In the eight months that they've been on Grand Street, they've never had any concerns, and he tries to deal with shoplifters without calling the police, he said.
"If you let it go, people come back and they do it again," he said. "If the person came and asked me I would give it to him, you know."
