Hundreds of bodega workers in New York City are applying for concealed-carry gun permits as the city struggles with ongoing violent theft.

The United Bodegas of America, the union representing bodega workers, announced Sunday that it has helped at least 230 bodega owners apply for firearm licenses.

Bodegas, the city’s small convenience stores, are often located in high-crime neighborhoods, making them a frequent target for criminals, in some cases armed ones.

After the pandemic, the bodega union said it formed a “secret society of gun owners” for bodega employees in New York City to obtain concealed-carry licenses. The list of which store owners are armed will remain a secret, the union said.