In a series of alarming incidents caught on video, brazen thieves were captured stealing cash from a bubble tea shop at the Fulton Transit Center, exacerbating concerns over rising crime in the area. The retail giant that operates the hub has threatened to leave due to safety concerns.

One video, obtained by The Post, shows a man entering Fulton Gong Cha in November 2022. In the footage, the thief can be seen cautiously peering around the plastic barriers surrounding the cash register. Seizing an opportunity, he reaches over, opens the register, and leans over the counter to snatch a handful of cash.

Another video, recorded in December 2023, depicts an audacious thief calmly walking up to the same counter. As the barista turns away to prepare a drink, the thief swiftly grabs the tip jar and casually strolls away.

According to the store manager, both incidents were reported to the NYPD. However, due to the frequency of such security issues, reporting every incident has become futile. "We have security issues regularly, like once every two weeks," the manager stated. "We only have one security officer in the entire building. We prefer to have four, with one stationed at each door."

These videos capture the ongoing complaints raised by Westfield Fulton Center, the retail manager responsible for the hub. The company has expressed its desire to exit the transit hub ten years ahead of schedule, attributing its decision to the rampant crime that has driven away tenants.

Westfield Fulton Center, in federal court documents, claims that homeless individuals and street hustlers have overrun the complex, further aggravated by inadequate security measures provided by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the landlord of the building. The company also alleges an increase in assaults and employee intimidation within the glass-and-steel structure, which was initially envisioned to rival iconic landmarks like Rockefeller Center or Grand Central Station.

While the retail manager, a subsidiary of global commercial real estate company Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, seeks to terminate the lease agreement, the MTA asserts that the specific reasons cited for lease termination do not align with the agreement. In court filings, the agency has requested that Westfield be compelled to honor the lease and be declared in breach of contract if it decides to break it.

The unfolding situation at Fulton Transit Center highlights the urgent need for enhanced security and measures to combat rising crime in the area. As the battle between the retail giant and the MTA ensues, both sides are keenly aware that the fate of the transit hub and the safety of its occupants hang in the balance.