In a recent revelation, the NYPD has ascribed a significant escalation in criminal activity in Central Park to a group of migrants. Among this group, the youngest suspect is reported to be just 11 years old. In light of this worrying development, the NYPD is working on strategies to counter this increased criminal activity.
The issue of crime in Central Park, a globally recognized location, has reached a new level with an abrupt surge in incidents. It appears that several crimes are linked to a crew of migrant individuals, prompting a decisive response from the NYPD. The police department is now enhancing its presence in the park by assigning an additional 40 officers on daily patrol duties from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
NYPD’s Deputy Commissioner of Public Information, Tarik Sheppard, stated, ‘We’re not going to tolerate crimes in one of the most iconic locations in the world’. In a vow to ensure public safety, the 11-year-old migrant was recently apprehended and has been tied to a ‘larger young migrant robbery pattern in Central Park’.
The NYPD has detected an alarming pattern, associating nearly 10 burglaries inside the park or along its southern end with a group of 12 migrant boys or young men. During a press briefing on Wednesday, the NYPD shared this information to the public. As part of their counter-strategy, they are increasing police coverage in the park to address this issue.
The department is also investigating an incident near the 97th Street Transverse which involved an assault on an elderly woman at a tennis court on Wednesday morning. From their sources, a man aged around 30 pushed an 82-year-old woman saying ‘you shouldn’t be here,’ before making a quick escape from the scene. The elderly woman suffered minor injuries to her knees, nose, and elbows, which were treated on the site by EMS.
Another incident involved two male suspects who initiated conversation with 20-year-old men at West 62nd Street and West Drive. The conversation ended in a robbery, with the culprits making off with a chain and a vape pen without displaying any weapons. Although the victims were not harmed during the encounter, the suspects remain at large.
Near the park’s entrance at 5th Avenue and 59th Street, around 1 a.m., subsequent robberies were reported. A group of teenagers was later arrested in connection with mugging three people in Central Park. This string of incidents only served to intensify the already heightened security concerns around the park.
The victims, aged 15, 21, and 35, were reportedly approached by the teenage suspects who gestured as though they had a weapon. The miscreants absconded with a pair of Apple AirPods and a chain necklace. However, the police managed to apprehend three of the teenage robbers while another remains uncaptured. It’s worth noting that none of the victims suffered injuries.
The city’s mayor, Eric Adams, has spoken up about these recent crime incidents and the underlying migrant issue. NYPD’s records show a 46% increase in major crimes in Central Park this year as opposed to the same period last year. Meanwhile, there’s a shocking 200% surge in robberies.
In the Midtown North Precinct close to the park, there’s a 10% increase in overall crime and robberies have spiked by 87%. NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell confirmed the increasing crime rates in Central Park, pinpointing robberies as the principal issue.
John Chell stated, ‘There is no secrets being kept here, crime is up in this park on the year. Specifically, robberies are the name of the game here,’ He declared, ‘At this point, we’re ready to call it. This is a migrant robbery pattern.’
The NYPD plans to continue the increased patrols for an indefinite period to suppress the rising crime level. However, the effectiveness of the strategy remains to be seen. The NYPD is also calling on anyone with information about the recent robberies to reach out to them.