North End businesses targeted by thieves

BOSTON — Residents in the North End say they have seen a rise in petty crime recently as police continue to investigate robberies, including one at the iconic Mike's Pastry.

The most recent robbery occurred at Vinoteca di Monica. A worker at the Richmond Street restaurant said he discovered the robbery around noon Wednesday and the whole incident was captured on surveillance cameras.

A man is seen walking into the restaurant through a back door before taking out a crowbar, opening the cash drawer and taking about $250.

This robbery comes days after another brazen robbery.

That one occurred around 9 a.m. Monday as a Mike’s Pastry worker was headed to the bank. Surveillance video shows a man wrestle the deposit from the worker and got away with nearly $10,000.

“Fifty years we've been doing this and never had any problems…(or) had to deal with any of this, so it was kind of a surprise,” Lorenzo Papa said.

Papa’s grandfather opened Mike’s Pastry, famous for its cannolis, more than 50 years ago. The family still owns it today.

A witness was able to chase the man who robbed the worker, but he was able to get away.

He’s described as a white man between 5 feet 10 inches tall and 6 feet tall and weighs about 170 pounds.

As for the restaurant robbery, police said that robber may be connected to another robbery in the area.

All of them remain under investigation.

Cox Media Group