Surveillance video captures burglary at Newburgh restaurant; owner seeks public’s help
The break-in happened around midnight Sunday night at An Artistic Taste, located at the busy intersection of Broadway and Liberty Street.
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Surveillance video given to News 12 shows a brazen burglary at a new restaurant in the City of Newburgh — and the owner is now asking for the public’s help to identify the suspect.
The break-in happened around midnight Sunday night at An Artistic Taste, located at the busy intersection of Broadway and Liberty Street. Video shows a man arriving with what appears to be a crowbar, prying open the front door and smashing the glass before forcing his way inside.
“He came with a crowbar and tried to pry the door open,” said Chef Andre Robinson, the restaurant’s owner.
Once inside, Robinson says the suspect didn’t hesitate — heading straight behind the bar as if he knew exactly where to go.
Surveillance footage from inside An Artistic Taste
“He made a B-line,” Robinson said. “Almost as if he’s been here before or knows the establishment.”
Surveillance video shows the suspect ripping the cash register out of the wall and leaving with the restaurant’s cash register and sales system, including the computer used to process credit card payments, along with an iPad, monitor, cash box, and two receipt printers.
“He just grabbed it with the wires and went out the front door,” Robinson said. “As soon as he got outside, he turned the iPad off.”
Robinson says the suspect only got away with about $100 in cash, but the real loss was the stolen equipment and extensive damage. He estimates the computer-based payment system alone is worth about $1,400, and replacing the broken door and frame cost roughly $2,500, bringing total losses to around $4,000.
“The worst part was the damage to the door,” Robinson said. “This is a brand-new frame and a brand-new door. This whole thing was broken.”
Damage to the front door
Robinson says the suspect was in and out in about four minutes, despite the restaurant being located at a well-lit, high-traffic intersection — even late at night — just steps from City Hall and the Newburgh Police Department.
“We have lights out there, so it was still bright,” Robinson said. “Cops are always here on the corner. City Hall is right there.”
An Artistic Taste opened in July and is Robinson’s second restaurant. His first location is on Route 17M in Harriman. Robinson says he had the opportunity to open his second spot in Tuxedo, but instead chose Newburgh — even after being warned not to.
“Everyone told us not to,” Robinson said. “They said, ‘You’re crazy for doing that.’ But I wanted to give it a chance and try to do something positive for the community.”
Since opening, Robinson says the restaurant has focused on giving back — training young people in the culinary arts and providing free meals to people experiencing homelessness. He says that mission won’t change.
“I have no regrets,” Robinson said. “We’re going to keep pushing forward. Keep feeding the community. That’s not going to change anything.”
Despite the break-in, Robinson says he still believes in Newburgh’s potential and won’t let the incident derail his commitment to the city.
“We can’t let one person, or a collective, ruin it for everyone else,” he said. “We like Newburgh. We still do. We’re going to rebuild, reopen, and continue to serve people.”
Robinson is asking anyone who recognizes the suspect in the surveillance video to contact the City of Newburgh Police Department at 845-561-3131.
In the meantime, community members have rallied around the restaurant, raising hundreds of dollars through a GoFundMe to help cover repairs and replace stolen equipment.
Robinson says he hopes to reopen Wednesday.
