Bodega buzzers: NYC to spend $1.6 million on silent alarms as robberies rise

New York City Mayor Eric Adams unveiled the city’s newest initiative to combat the rise in crime, which he described as a “panic button” for bodegas to alert local police.

The new buttons, called “SilentShields” in an online press release, are a $1.6 million investment by the city and are being given to 500 different bodega stores across the five boroughs. Adams explained that these buttons will be connected “directly” to local precincts, and will give access to cameras within these stores to see what is happening and provide an “immediate response.”