Crime forces Brooklyn McDonald's to ban teens and card customers at the door
By isabelle // 2025-02-26
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  • A Brooklyn McDonald’s now requires patrons under 20 to show ID and be accompanied by a parent due to escalating violence and vandalism.
  • The location has a long history of crime, including assaults, shootings, and over 100 annual 911 calls.
  • Recent incidents include masked juveniles attacking a security guard and causing chaos, prompting the drastic policy change.
  • The restaurant’s struggles reflect NYC’s broader crime surge, with assaults at their highest since 2006 and critics blaming soft-on-crime policies.
  • The new age restriction has sparked protests but also praise for restoring peace, highlighting the city’s failure to ensure public safety.
Crime in New York City is escalating, and a Brooklyn McDonald’s has resorted to extreme measures to protect its employees and customers. The fast-food outlet at Nostrand and Flatbush Avenues is now carding patrons at the door, barring anyone under 20 from entering without a parent and proper identification. This unprecedented move comes after years of violence, vandalism, and chaos at the location, which has become a symbol of the city’s inability to maintain public safety under its liberal leadership. The decision follows a recent incident in which a group of juveniles wearing ski masks stormed the restaurant, assaulted a security guard, and shattered a glass door. “It was a crazy scene,” said Amber Hussain, the 19-year-old manager, who has witnessed daily mayhem at the location. Hussain described how 15 to 20 teenagers regularly “trash the store,” throwing ice at customers, stealing food from delivery drivers, and filling the restaurant with marijuana smoke.

A long history of violence

This McDonald’s has been a crime hotspot for over a decade. In 2011, an 18-year-old was shot multiple times in broad daylight as he entered the restaurant. In 2012, a manager assaulted a 24-year-old woman during an argument over food. More recently, a delivery worker was jumped and left unconscious. According to NYPD data, the location has prompted over 100 calls to 911 annually for the past three years, with 111 calls already logged in 2024. “If you’re from that area, you know that McDonald’s is horrible,” said Sania Bolasingh, a local resident. “People fight in there – it’s not just kids being kids. People get stabbed, a delivery worker got jumped, he passed out.”

A city in crisis

The Brooklyn McDonald’s is not an isolated case but a microcosm of New York City’s broader crime problem. Under the leadership of Mayor Eric Adams and a progressive city council, the city has seen a surge in violent crime, particularly among juveniles. NYPD data reveals that assaults are at their highest level since 2006, while robberies and auto thefts remain significantly elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels. Critics argue that the city’s soft-on-crime policies, including bail reform and reduced police presence, have emboldened criminals. “What do you expect a business owner to do?” asked Clyde Smith, a 48-year-old law clerk. “This was always a place where kids would cause trouble.”

A desperate solution

The McDonald’s has hired two security guards to enforce the new age restriction, a move that has drawn mixed reactions. While some applaud the measure, others see it as a sad indictment of the city’s failure to protect its citizens. TikTok user Sania Kaila, who filmed the restaurant’s new policy, remarked, “This is crazy [that it’s come to this]. Stop messing up other people’s place!” The policy has sparked protests from excluded teenagers, who stood outside the restaurant shaking their fists in anger. Yet, for many, the sight of a peaceful McDonald’s is a welcome change. “You see how peaceful this McDonald’s is? You see how there’s no kids, you see how there’s no turmoil, how there’s nobody fighting?” Kaila said in her video. The Brooklyn McDonald’s saga underscores the urgent need for New York City to address its crime epidemic. While businesses are forced to take extreme measures to protect themselves, the city’s leaders continue to prioritize progressive policies over public safety. The result is a city where residents and businesses alike feel abandoned. As New Yorkers grapple with rising crime and disorder, the question remains: How much longer will they tolerate a government that fails to uphold the most basic responsibility of protecting its citizens? Until New York’s leaders prioritize accountability and public safety over political ideology, such desperate measures will remain the norm, and the city’s decline will continue unabated. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com DailyMail.co.uk NYPost.com TheAtlantic.com
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