The owner of a New Haven jewelry store fought back when a would-be robber came into his Chapel Street store on Monday.
Surveillance video shows Jaesuk Lee fighting off a man who came in to Nim's to rob the store. The two men struggled for minutes, beating one another until Lee pinned down the suspect and held him there until police arrived. Officers arrested 21-year-old Daren Cogswell.
“I came out of my own business around quarter of five and there were police cars all up and down the street,” said Carol Orr, who owns English Market just down the street and spoke on behalf of Mr. Lee.
She says this is just one instance of the crime plaguing this section of Chapel Street.
“We have theft one or two times a week in our store,” said Orr.
Lee has been robbed three times in the past few years. Both owners say something needs to be done to prevent the crime.
“It's kind of the left over portion of New Haven that is not well-tended. We don't have a lot of police presence here. We have a lot of vagrancy, a lot of homelessness, passing out on the street,” said Orr.
They're hoping to get more officers on Chapel Street and to get the area cleaned up. Because, that's the only way the crime will stop and the customers will come in.
“Let's increase the presence on Chapel Street. Let's work together with the shop owners, and show everyone what we really do have in New Haven. And there's only one way you can really do that: let's fix this problem,” said Ed Bartlett, who runs CTOutandAbout.com.
Until then, Lee isn’t taking any chances. He’s closing up early at 4:30 every evening just to be safe.