Six times in six months – that’s how often the owners of a Detroit liquor store, across the street from a police precinct, say they have been targeted by arsonists.
Last night was the latest attack, this time with customers inside.
Romina Odisho’s family owned store, Piper Liquor, has been opened since May on Nevada Street near Mound.
“We are across the street from the 11th precinct and this is still happening to us,” Odisho said.
She says this is the sixth time they’ve been targeted by firebombs. The latest attack happened minutes before they were closing Tuesday night.
“It actually caught one of the aisles fully on fire,” she said.
7 Action News was there in July when they reported five incidents. The damage was only outside of the store, by the door.
This time, the alleged arsonists attacked inside while the store was open only feet away from someone paying.
“Customers helped us grab water (and) throw it on the fire until the fire department got here,” Odisho said.
Rita Walker is a customer who is angry over these attacks.
“We are trying to figure out who is doing this," Walker said. "Who is doing this?”
She says this is one of the few stores in the area that sells groceries and household products. Walker and other customers are considering rounding up some sort of neighborhood watch to protect the store.
The customer had this message for the alleged arsonists: “We are going to catch you eventually. If the police won’t catch you, we’re going to catch you.”
The store is not part of the city's Project Greenlight. However, Odisho says if sitting across the street from the police isn’t deterring criminals then the program probably wouldn’t help either.
“Honestly, thinking it’s other stores, other close stores," Odisho said. "If they are losing business because we are gaining business, I’m not sure."
They are still assessing the damage but believe it’s in the thousands.
“A whole aisle. We had to bag everything up and throw it in the trash, including the shelves themselves,” she said.
The store plans to stay open, regardless of these attacks.
