NEW: NYPD issues public crime alert for Central Park after 350% spike in robberies so far this year compared with the same period last year – WNBC
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) April 30, 2024
The NYPD sounded the alarm Tuesday on an uptick in Central Park crime, revealing a 350% increase in reported robberies so far this year compared with the same period last year.
Most of the robberies occur in the evening and target electronics, like phones and expensive headphones, NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said. He said there have been 18 in the park so far this year, compared with four over the same time period last year.
Grand larcenies — when someone snatches a phone out of a hand without causing injury or takes a piece of property left on a bench — are also up, with 12 reported in the first four months of this year versus eight reported in the first four months of last year. Serious injuries have not been reported, but the criminal uptick in such a famous place has many park-goers concerned, whether tourists or locals. Maddrey acknowledged that much.
“This is one of the most iconic locations in NYC, it’s heavily used, all types of events happen here … and with that, we have an obligation to make sure the community knows what’s going on. This helps us increase public safety,” he said.
www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/central-park-crime-nypd/5367713/