'Lowest of the low,' Buffalo mayor rebukes looters stealing from stores, businesses during blizzard

[J D Young]

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown had sharp words for looters
Monday who have broken into and stolen items from several stores around
the city during the Blizzard of 2022.

Videos of ransacked stores and businesses with people running out with
various items have been shared broadly on TikTok, Facebook, and other
social media platforms.

The mayor called these people the "lowest of the low."

"People who are out looting when people are losing their lives in this
harsh winter storm it's just absolutely reprehensible I don't know how
they can live with themselves," said Mayor Brown during a joint press
conference with Erie County and State Officials including Governor Kathy
Hochul.

Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia who also spoke at the press
conference said that police are aware of these incidents and working to
get a full count of how many there have been.

"We have made a few arrests we have intervened in some of those, we've
assisted with at least one location that I am aware of in getting a store
boarded up so our officers are out there," said Commissioner Gramaglia.

That store is believed to be Rick's Sports Apparel near Allen Street and
Elmwood Avenue according to a tip shared with 2 On Your Side. The store
had its windows broken, got looted, and was boarded up Monday night.

The Commissioner added that officers are starting to get back to their
patrol duties which would include monitoring looting and theft. Since
Friday the focus has been on the snow emergency and saving lives.

"It's heartbreaking. When this is all over the community will have nowhere
to go to get the things they need," said Robert Smallwood, an employee at
Camellia Meats.

Smallwood had flagged down 2 On Your Side's Dave McKinley Monday morning
and said that the Family Dollar at Genesee Street and Zenner Street was in
the middle of being looted. Several videos show people with bags of items
who had just exited the store.

Inside the Family Dollar, there were items tossed off of shelves, and
boxes were thrown everywhere.

Patrick Cichocki, one of the owners of Camellia Meats told 2 On Your Side
that the Broadway Market was also broken into. They have a retail outlet
in the market and he said their cash register was stolen, fortunately with
nothing in it.

"They're breaking into the Rent To Own, they're taking TV sets," said
Cichocki, who blamed the justice system for this fallout during the
blizzard.

"They're not looting food and medicines, they're just looting items that
they want so these aren't even people in distress these are people that
are taking advantage of a natural disaster," Mayor Brown said.

As the Buffalo Police Department continues to investigate these incidents
tips can be shared using the confidential Tip Line at 716-847-2255.

<https://www.wgrz.com/article/weather/severe-weather/lowest-of-the-low-
buffalo-mayor-rebukes-looters-stealing-from-stores-winter-weather-theft-
wny-crime/71-27804b8e-eea3-4176-bac0-620021061b56?ref=exit-recirc>

Shoot some of those niggers. That will stop it.