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She Went to the Upper East Side to Escape Crime for an Afternoon: ‘How Wrong I Was’

June 9, 2022 | 6:02 PM - Updated on June 10, 2022 | 3:02 AM
in CRIME, FOOD, NEWS
50

By Peggy Taylor

I’d had enough of crime on the Upper West Side. Enough of the muggings, the stabbings, the robberies of 90-year-olds, the terrorizing of street vendors, the McDonald’s shootouts, the street fights, the park hold-ups, the thefts of businesses large and small.

The elegant window display. Photographs by Peggy Taylor.

So, last week, I hopped on the crosstown M72 to escape to the swanky Upper East Side, which I was sure would be safer. I’d seek refuge in my favorite French boulangerie/patisserie/tea room/ice cream parlor, Ladurée, on Madison Avenue, where I would indulge in a treat hard to find in most restaurants—coffee ice cream.

There I would settle into a miniature Marie-Antoinette boudoir, adorned with silk draperies, swag-framed mirrors, and a velvet banquette facing a window display of beribboned gift boxes and made-to-order macaron trees, priced from $95 to $545.

Now, I had read in the New York Post that last April, Madison’s high-end clothing stores had been hit by an illegal theft ring so massive that they were now locking their doors and opening only by appointment. But the authorities had since indicted the ringleader and forty-one accomplices, so shop owners were feeling less fearful. Anyway, those were high-end apparel boutiques; surely, one was safe in an ice cream parlor.

How wrong I was.

I had been going to Ladurée since 2017, and pre-pandemic, indulging in their over-the-top Café Liégeois—three scoops of coffee ice cream drowned in espresso and crowned with whipped cream and caramelized almonds.

Now, post-pandemic and tightening my belt, I ordered only one scoop sans whipped cream and almonds, but still stylishly served in a bulbous silver bowl, with a tapered silver spoon and silver pitcher of espresso on the side.

What the would-be thief saw, minus the ice cream. (This I restaged.)

The staff know me and my routine. I place my credit card and a $2 cash tip on my small, marble-topped table, and they pick them up whenever they get a breather from the macaron lovers crowding the store. But on Monday, May 23rd, forty-five minutes before closing, a tall woman in her forties, wearing a black-and-white headwrap, fitted jeans and a long, black sweater entered the boudoir, spotted the card and the cash, and before I could say, “Let them eat cake,” reached out to grab both.

Luckily, my 81-year-old reflexes were faster than her forty-year-old arm, and as I shouted, “No you don’t!” I grabbed the card and cash and inserted them back into my wallet. She turned away nonchalantly and let out a strange cackle, which the manager, viewing her later on the shop’s video tape, described as from “someone on drugs and crazy.”

Angry, incredulous, scared, and frozen, all I could do was say to a neighbor sitting at the other end of the banquette, “Did you see that?” “Yes,” she said, as shocked as I, especially when we realized that the would-be thief had not dashed out of the shop as a normal thief would, but rather stood calmly at the display counter as if pondering which flavor of macarons to buy (raspberry ginger, cherry blossom tea, or black currant violet.)

I’m still trying to understand why I didn’t shout to the entire shop, “That woman tried to steal my credit card!” Was it paralysis? Fear? Embarrassment at almost having been had? She had failed to get the card, so I had no proof that she had tried. Would the other customers have looked kindly on me as I interrupted their selection of quiches and croissants, as well as macarons.

The assistant manager had momentarily left the shop; one of the two servers had gone downstairs, and the other, a woman in her twenties, was helping customers. Should I have pitted her against a thief who could possibly have been packing a gun or knife? Someone who might have jumped over the display counter and attacked her just as a disgruntled MOMA member jumped over the Museum’s desk and stabbed two receptionists three months ago.

When the assistant manager returned, I recounted the saga, to which he replied, “There’s a lot of stuff happening on Madison Avenue today. But we have her on tape,” he reassured me, pointing to a security camera perched near the display window above the silk draperies.

The camera that caught her.

After closing, the manager replayed the tape and found the section featuring me and the thwarted thief. He emailed it to me but asked that I keep it to myself. The shop didn’t file a police report, and neither did I. “We always advise people to file a police report, even days after the incident. You both can still do so,” said Matthew Bauer, president of the Madison Avenue BID, who I informed. But with crime so pervasive, I felt, and still feel, that it would be futile. The jails are already overcrowded; even if she were caught, she would probably be back out on the street the same day.

Bauer was shocked that the woman had tried to steal the card and money right from under me. “We have cases of purse snatchings in restaurants when patrons leave their belongings unattended, and we always encourage them to secure their bags, but this is the first time I’ve heard of an attempted theft at Ladurée.”

But Ladurée’s manager confirmed that robberies there are on the rise: “They take anything that’s outside the display case— jars of jam, bags of marshmallows, and the scented candles located right next to the cash register!” The assistant manager pointed to the statuette of a naked, Roman-looking boy reading a book next to a cup of coffee stirrers. “One day a guy tried to steal him, but I caught him before he succeeded,” he said.

The assistant manager saved him.

Then I remembered that three years ago, all of Ladurée’s sidewalk chairs were stolen. Every night, they now chain the chairs to the sidewalk tables.

So, all the tensions and anxiety of the Upper West Side did not dissipate when I sought solace on the Upper East Side. After speaking with friends about rising crime in their neighborhoods, I have concluded that post-pandemic crime, both petty and serious, is citywide.

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David Hill
David Hill
15 days ago

It’s not because the jails are overcrowded, it’s because no one is prosecuting or locking them up in the first place!

42
Reply
S L
S L
15 days ago

This is exactly why we are moving. I have had absolutely enough.

9
Reply
Doris D
Doris D
14 days ago
Reply to  S L

And you think suburban areas are safer? Just ask the citizens of Buffalo, Uvalde, Newtown, Aurora, Colorado, PIttsburgh, etc.

14
Reply
mkmuws
mkmuws
15 days ago

Nationwide, and likely beyond.

5
Reply
Janet Babin
Janet Babin
15 days ago

I’m so sorry this happened to you!! But, this account is so beautifully written, thank you for sharing it.

21
Reply
Sarah
Sarah
15 days ago

Beautiful and heart wrenching thank you for sharing. Sadly, voting for any democrat is voting for crime. Republicans would not legislate so as to encourage these crimes. Yes, democrats legislate so as to encourage these crimes.

13
Reply
Doris D
Doris D
14 days ago
Reply to  Sarah

Don’t forget to that Republicans ignore the issue of assault weapons. They sat stoned faced when a Uvalde pediatrician testified about treating the decapitation of 4th graders by an AR-15. No surprise, because GOP did nothing after Sandy Hook when those babies were butchered 10 years ago. And of course they could careless about executed grandmothers in a Buffalo supermarket.

12
Reply
GeorgeCPW
GeorgeCPW
15 days ago
Reply to  Sarah

Republicans legislate to allow everyone to carry a concealed gun. That is certainly voting for crime.

24
Reply
Lisa
Lisa
14 days ago
Reply to  GeorgeCPW

No it’s actually not. If you’re a thief and you think your target victim could very well be armed, might you hesitate to attack? That’s the point of allowing law abiding citizens to have guns. In this city and other crime ridden cities like Chicago and Philadelphia, the only ones who have guns are the criminals, because the laws make it nearly impossible for law abiding citizen to have guns. Thus, criminals know their prey are unprotected, and have no hesitation in attacking. Statistics show that crime goes down in areas where concealed carry laws are passed, and subsequently rises by nearly the identical margin in adjacent areas that do not have concealed carry laws. Criminals go where the victims are going to be easy targets.

5
Reply
David S
David S
10 days ago
Reply to  Lisa

Lisa;

Assuming that you’re living in the same reality as the rest of us (I have my doubts, but let’s go with that assumption for the moment), you’re certainly aware that NYC has the strictest gun laws in the country, and also has the lowest violent crime rate of any big city in the country. How do you explain in light your fallacious assertion about concealed carry laws and crime rates?

2
Reply
AWG
AWG
12 days ago
Reply to  Lisa

“Statistics show that crime goes down in areas where concealed carry laws are passed”
cite this, please.

0
Reply
JerryV
JerryV
13 days ago
Reply to  Lisa

Lisa, Please cite these statistics that you write about. I note also that the Police in Uvalde all were armed with guns while babies were being murdered. A lot good these guns did!

7
Reply
wsr
wsr
15 days ago

It’s disappointing that the manager asked you to keep it to yourself. It should have been reported.

20
Reply
DAE
DAE
15 days ago

You sound awesome and wonderful! Thank you for taking the time to write about your experience. I have lived in NYC for the last 40 years, always on the West Side, both downtown and uptown….in the last year or so, this is the 1st time, I have ever felt “not safe” I am giving Mayor Adams and the DA’s one more year to get this crime situation under control, and if there is not a significant improvement, I too am relocating. This use to be the greatest city, and it still can be, but those who govern need to be a lot tougher on crime and gun laws! I am advocating a criminal law that says “3 strikes and you are definitely locked up for a long time.”

7
Reply
Karen Bruno
Karen Bruno
15 days ago

I’m beginning to think Manhattan will never be the same..such a shame.

5
Reply
DAE
DAE
15 days ago

PS you sound like an amazing person, I would be happy to join you in going back to Laduree for more coffee ice cream. My Treat!

10
Reply
Frustrated
Frustrated
15 days ago

You should’ve reported it. That’s ridiculous that you did not report this and that’s why the data idoesn’t even show how bad it is and why this will continue even more.

21
Reply
Lisa
Lisa
14 days ago
Reply to  Frustrated

I think you should still report it because it’s important to capture the true statistics. Statistics = political pressure to enforce our laws, fix the ridiculous “bail reform” laws that let everyone go free endlessly, etc. For the first time in my 20 years in NYC, a work colleague was violently mugged (his orbital bone fractured) near MSG after a Rangers game. He didn’t report it because “why bother, nothing will be done.” We can assume that there are, many more of these instances out there. As shocking as the crime statistics are currently, in actuality they’re probably even much, much worse. 🙁

5
Reply
Ira Nieslapper
Ira Nieslapper
15 days ago

From Sarah:

“Beautiful and heart wrenching thank you for sharing. Sadly, voting for any democrat is voting for crime. Republicans would not legislate so as to encourage these crimes. Yes, democrats legislate so as to encourage these crimes.”

Ironic that I read this comment as the Committee Hearing investigating the Republican-led attack on Congress, and insurrection against the United States plays in the background.

12
Reply
Ben
Ben
15 days ago

I’m glad to hear this perspective regarding the crime (so I don’t feel so alone on the UWS). I’ve lived up here for about 5 years. Did his crime not happen prior to the pandemic? Hasn’t there always been crime like this? After all, it is NYC. What do people think?

2
Reply
Lisa
Lisa
14 days ago
Reply to  Ben

No, this is a significant deterioration. I’ve been here for 20+ years and have never seen it this bad. This is a post-pandemic, post- “bail reform” and post-DeBlasio issue.

8
Reply
UWSRachel
UWSRachel
14 days ago
Reply to  Ben

Ben, there has always been crime and homelessness in this neighborhood just like there has and will always be in a major city. Has it risen? Perhaps. But all it takes is a simple search in the Rag’s search bar and you can see prior to the pandemic that the recently closed Rite Aid at 70th & Amsterdam was held at gunpoint 3 times in 2019, and that there were multiple homeless encampments in neighborhood (in front of Well’s Fargo at 70th & Amsterdam, in front of North Face at 73rd & Broadway, along the bike racks next to Apple Bank for Savings at 73rd & Amsterdam) that Rag Reader’s complained about incessantly at the time. People forget because they want to blame the party they don’t agree with because it’s easier and fits their narrative and biases, and they forget because perhaps they were living their lives then and had more going on and the city was busier that they didn’t give it a second thought.

8
Reply
Karen Bruno
Karen Bruno
14 days ago
Reply to  Ben

You came at the absolute worst time. I arrived in 2004 and for awhile it was magical. No empty shops, extremely minimal homelessness and very little crime. I felt safe riding the subway at 3:00 am in Manhattan. Now..forget about!

2
Reply
Mutaman
Mutaman
11 days ago
Reply to  Karen Bruno

It used to be so magical riding the subway at 3:00 AM.

0
Reply
Eric
Eric
14 days ago
Reply to  Ben

I’ve been on West 79th for 45 years…no, it hasn’t always been like this. Maybe in the 60s-70s, but not in my time.

5
Reply
Brandon
Brandon
14 days ago
Reply to  Eric

Well that’s just blatantly false. Crime may be up, but it is not at the worst levels in 45 years — your specific claim.

Check the CompStat data before spreading misinformation, please.

Here’s the 24th Precinct: https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/cs-en-us-024pct.pdf

Here’s the 20th: https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/cs-en-us-020pct.pdf

Read the table at the bottom labeled “Historical Perspective” for a breakdown compared to previous years.

6
Reply
Fred
Fred
15 days ago

Beautifully written and sadly true. I grieve for my home and what its become.

7
Reply
D C
D C
15 days ago

I’m sorry this happened to you.
I’m 60, and keep wondering if NYC is where I wish to grow old.

7
Reply
EGF
EGF
15 days ago

There is nowhere to go to escape this. Crime is on the rise everywhere!

1
Reply
Karen Bruno
Karen Bruno
14 days ago
Reply to  EGF

That’s not true, there are a lot of cities that are very safe. Manhattan, SF, Chicago are the worst. Manhattan wasn’t like this 10 years ago.

3
Reply
alice
alice
14 days ago
Reply to  Karen Bruno

Crime in NYC now is nothing compared to the ’70s and ’80s. These are difficult times now all, here and over the world. Be cautious, keep your perspective, and, above all, keep loving New York, with all its flaws and beauty.

7
Reply
Neighbor
Neighbor
13 days ago
Reply to  alice

I agree. I know all these are problems, but boy, it’s depressing reading articles like this plus most of the comments. A friend’s FB just sported a note in Greek celebrating New York. It’s wonderful that we have places like Ladurée. I was born here, came back in my 20s, and we’re nowhere as bad as those days of the mid-70s.

1
Reply
JMG
JMG
14 days ago

Years ago when I was traveling out of state – while dining out – I saw a man quickly walk through the restaurant and grab a payment in cash that had been left on another table. The waitress was in tears – she would have to pay for the meal. Ever since then, I have always waited and handed the server my payment – whether it is in cash or in credit – This sometimes irritates those dining with me who want to just leave the payment and leave – but to me it ensures that – yes – my credit card/cash isn’t grabbed – but also gives me a chance to personally thank the server –

16
Reply
Holly Lance
Holly Lance
14 days ago

Thanks for sharing this interesting story. In the scheme of things, it could have been so much worse. Thankfully, no one was hurt and you have your cash and card. Job well done!

2
Reply
Holly Lance
Holly Lance
14 days ago

Thanks for sharing your story. In the scheme of things the outcome could have been much worse. Glad that you were able to retrieve your cash and card unharmed!

0
Reply
just_sayin'
just_sayin'
14 days ago

Why did the manager ask you to keep the video to yourself? Why did you? Why did you instead decide to write about the incident? Why not file a police report, complete with video of the the person committing the crime so store owners on Madison would be aware of the person and perhaps recognize her from the video and be aware of her when she enters their establishments. So you’ve got a “fun” story to tell, but you’ve chosen not to help stop this person from committing another crime? Whose side are you on? Why give this criminal a pass?

6
Reply
mark
mark
14 days ago

You seriously thought that taking a 5 minute bus ride to another part of the borough would be any different?
There is no fear of jail time by NYC criminals anymore. Until that changes, we’re stuck with what we have.

2
Reply
EricaC
EricaC
14 days ago

I read about events like this, and I’m sorry for those who have experienced them. My own experience has not been so bad – I’ve not experienced any crime directly. I have come across more disturbed individuals, whether because of drugs, or mental illness, or a combination. I can understand why it would make someone who feels vulnerable feel even more so.

I do think the instant recourse to “blame democrats” is uncalled for, given that crime is rising in all states – and was rising during the prior federal administration as well. The problem is real, and the question about what to do about it is not as simple as locking up everyone who does something wrong, as tempting as that may be.

It is important to remember that there have been other difficult periods, and the thing that got us through is pulling together, both in terms of reporting crimes and in terms of helping people who are struggling. Drug users are unpleasant and sometimes frightening to have around, and I don’t believe that they should be permitted to get away with actions like this simply because they are struggling, but there are few resources even for those people who want help. We might improve our situation by trying to make sure that attention to drug treatment is given weight, as well as punishment for wrong doing. As anyone who deals with an addict knows, it is a very hard road, and being able to get the right kind of help can make all the difference for both the addict and the people living around the addict.

5
Reply
Trish
Trish
14 days ago

Everyone: you must file police reports. No one will be held accountable if no one formally files/presses charges. Not filing just adds to the already absurd amount of impunity floating around. Example: the Target on Columbus, which will not call the cops when theft occurs, instead claiming losses with its insurance company, which in turn sends a message to criminals that it’s okay to steal, which leads to more theft (not to mention higher premiums for everyone, no inventory, inevitable store closures, etc). It’s on all of us to do the right thing. In this case, it’s following up legally.

5
Reply
Claire Shumsky
Claire Shumsky
14 days ago

Wonderful place, wonderful story?

0
Reply
Joe
Joe
14 days ago

DeBlasio really hurt the UWS and UES by neglect, opening homeless shelters, jails, mental health shelters, needle exchange clinics. These were nice safe family oriented neighborhoods. Then obviously defunding police, bail reform, social justice reform, not holding or jailing anyone, legalizing pot, gambling has really hurt all neighborhoods. We made it safer for criminals and dangerous for everyone else.

6
Reply
Mutaman
Mutaman
11 days ago
Reply to  Joe

Legalizing pot has definitely made the city less safe. Statistics show a big increase in the number of people breaking the law by laying on their couches and eating cheetos.

1
Reply
Lynne FUNK
Lynne FUNK
14 days ago

Video is a great tool to be combined with police reports. Side mirrors are being snapped off on the Upper west Side. (Replacement is over 500 dollars) This happened to me on w 73 just west of CPW, near the entry to a big doorman building. I got the video a week later from the building showing the candal and will continue to try to report it. Calling the precinct 3 times, i first got a busy, then no answer, then left a message w no call back. Trying online, the system didnt work but i will try again and attach video. Lynne Funk Architect and 30 -year resident of W 74th St.

1
Reply
JustAnObservation
JustAnObservation
14 days ago

Keep voting the same way and you will get the same results.
When this is realized, things will change.
It is only going to get worse with the current leadership

4
Reply
Ish Kabibble
Ish Kabibble
13 days ago

Lisa and others think handing out guns will solve the problem. The problem is that there is not 1 iota of proof that this is a good idea. It’s a horrible idea. More guns is never a good thing.

3
Reply
JerryV
JerryV
13 days ago
Reply to  Ish Kabibble

They are certainly good for the gun manufacturers.

2
Reply
Sarah
Sarah
12 days ago

I’m really sorry you experienced this sad and scary attempted theft and very glad you didn’t lose your credit card. But I would ask you to consider that you don’t report having experienced crime on the UWS. You didn’t go to the UES to “escape crime,” you went to escape the SPECTER of crime that someone planted in your head. Consider who benefits from doing that.

3
Reply
Nelson
Nelson
12 days ago

I encourage you to report the incident to the appropriate precinct, regardless of how petty or insignificant you feel it may have been. It’s important for establishing patterns, accurate statistics etc. I was the victim of a minor assault last Fall in Riverside Park and after reporting it, I discovered that I’d been the 3rd of 4 such victims, two of whom had been seriously injured. But my report had helped law enforcement establish a pattern, arrange surveillance and make an arrest (and yes, incarceration)! Reporting will also give you an opportunity to meet with a member of NYPD and discuss other concerns and establish a rapport. I am sorry you had an upsetting experience and hope you will not be deterred from enjoying life in the City…and your favorite ice cream!

3
Reply
David S
David S
10 days ago

“He emailed it to me but asked that I keep it to myself”

Nope. Reporting a crime is a responsibility of every citizen. At the very least, post this video on social media, and send it to local news outlets, so that others can be alert if they spot the perpetrator.

2
Reply
Melanie
Melanie
10 days ago

A most descriptive account of a day in the life with Peggy . Wonderfully written and sadly a reality.

1
Reply

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She Went to the Upper East Side to Escape Crime for an Afternoon: ‘How Wrong I Was’

By Peggy Taylor

I’d had enough of crime on the Upper West Side. Enough of the muggings, the stabbings, the robberies of 90-year-olds, the terrorizing of street vendors, the McDonald’s shootouts, the street fights, the park hold-ups, the thefts of businesses large and small.

The elegant window display. Photographs by Peggy Taylor.

So, last week, I hopped on the crosstown M72 to escape to the swanky Upper East Side, which I was sure would be safer. I’d seek refuge in my favorite French boulangerie/patisserie/tea room/ice cream parlor, Ladurée, on Madison Avenue, where I would indulge in a treat hard to find in most restaurants—coffee ice cream.

There I would settle into a miniature Marie-Antoinette boudoir, adorned with silk draperies, swag-framed mirrors, and a velvet banquette facing a window display of beribboned gift boxes and made-to-order macaron trees, priced from $95 to $545.

Now, I had read in the New York Post that last April, Madison’s high-end clothing stores had been hit by an illegal theft ring so massive that they were now locking their doors and opening only by appointment. But the authorities had since indicted the ringleader and forty-one accomplices, so shop owners were feeling less fearful. Anyway, those were high-end apparel boutiques; surely, one was safe in an ice cream parlor.

How wrong I was.

I had been going to Ladurée since 2017, and pre-pandemic, indulging in their over-the-top Café Liégeois—three scoops of coffee ice cream drowned in espresso and crowned with whipped cream and caramelized almonds.

Now, post-pandemic and tightening my belt, I ordered only one scoop sans whipped cream and almonds, but still stylishly served in a bulbous silver bowl, with a tapered silver spoon and silver pitcher of espresso on the side.

What the would-be thief saw, minus the ice cream. (This I restaged.)

The staff know me and my routine. I place my credit card and a $2 cash tip on my small, marble-topped table, and they pick them up whenever they get a breather from the macaron lovers crowding the store. But on Monday, May 23rd, forty-five minutes before closing, a tall woman in her forties, wearing a black-and-white headwrap, fitted jeans and a long, black sweater entered the boudoir, spotted the card and the cash, and before I could say, “Let them eat cake,” reached out to grab both.

Luckily, my 81-year-old reflexes were faster than her forty-year-old arm, and as I shouted, “No you don’t!” I grabbed the card and cash and inserted them back into my wallet. She turned away nonchalantly and let out a strange cackle, which the manager, viewing her later on the shop’s video tape, described as from “someone on drugs and crazy.”

Angry, incredulous, scared, and frozen, all I could do was say to a neighbor sitting at the other end of the banquette, “Did you see that?” “Yes,” she said, as shocked as I, especially when we realized that the would-be thief had not dashed out of the shop as a normal thief would, but rather stood calmly at the display counter as if pondering which flavor of macarons to buy (raspberry ginger, cherry blossom tea, or black currant violet.)

I’m still trying to understand why I didn’t shout to the entire shop, “That woman tried to steal my credit card!” Was it paralysis? Fear? Embarrassment at almost having been had? She had failed to get the card, so I had no proof that she had tried. Would the other customers have looked kindly on me as I interrupted their selection of quiches and croissants, as well as macarons.

The assistant manager had momentarily left the shop; one of the two servers had gone downstairs, and the other, a woman in her twenties, was helping customers. Should I have pitted her against a thief who could possibly have been packing a gun or knife? Someone who might have jumped over the display counter and attacked her just as a disgruntled MOMA member jumped over the Museum’s desk and stabbed two receptionists three months ago.

When the assistant manager returned, I recounted the saga, to which he replied, “There’s a lot of stuff happening on Madison Avenue today. But we have her on tape,” he reassured me, pointing to a security camera perched near the display window above the silk draperies.

The camera that caught her.

After closing, the manager replayed the tape and found the section featuring me and the thwarted thief. He emailed it to me but asked that I keep it to myself. The shop didn’t file a police report, and neither did I. “We always advise people to file a police report, even days after the incident. You both can still do so,” said Matthew Bauer, president of the Madison Avenue BID, who I informed. But with crime so pervasive, I felt, and still feel, that it would be futile. The jails are already overcrowded; even if she were caught, she would probably be back out on the street the same day.

Bauer was shocked that the woman had tried to steal the card and money right from under me. “We have cases of purse snatchings in restaurants when patrons leave their belongings unattended, and we always encourage them to secure their bags, but this is the first time I’ve heard of an attempted theft at Ladurée.”

But Ladurée’s manager confirmed that robberies there are on the rise: “They take anything that’s outside the display case— jars of jam, bags of marshmallows, and the scented candles located right next to the cash register!” The assistant manager pointed to the statuette of a naked, Roman-looking boy reading a book next to a cup of coffee stirrers. “One day a guy tried to steal him, but I caught him before he succeeded,” he said.

The assistant manager saved him.

Then I remembered that three years ago, all of Ladurée’s sidewalk chairs were stolen. Every night, they now chain the chairs to the sidewalk tables.

So, all the tensions and anxiety of the Upper West Side did not dissipate when I sought solace on the Upper East Side. After speaking with friends about rising crime in their neighborhoods, I have concluded that post-pandemic crime, both petty and serious, is citywide.

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David Hill
David Hill
15 days ago

It’s not because the jails are overcrowded, it’s because no one is prosecuting or locking them up in the first place!

42
Reply
S L
S L
15 days ago

This is exactly why we are moving. I have had absolutely enough.

9
Reply
Doris D
Doris D
14 days ago
Reply to  S L

And you think suburban areas are safer? Just ask the citizens of Buffalo, Uvalde, Newtown, Aurora, Colorado, PIttsburgh, etc.

14
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mkmuws
mkmuws
15 days ago

Nationwide, and likely beyond.

5
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Janet Babin
Janet Babin
15 days ago

I’m so sorry this happened to you!! But, this account is so beautifully written, thank you for sharing it.

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Sarah
Sarah
15 days ago

Beautiful and heart wrenching thank you for sharing. Sadly, voting for any democrat is voting for crime. Republicans would not legislate so as to encourage these crimes. Yes, democrats legislate so as to encourage these crimes.

13
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Doris D
Doris D
14 days ago
Reply to  Sarah

Don’t forget to that Republicans ignore the issue of assault weapons. They sat stoned faced when a Uvalde pediatrician testified about treating the decapitation of 4th graders by an AR-15. No surprise, because GOP did nothing after Sandy Hook when those babies were butchered 10 years ago. And of course they could careless about executed grandmothers in a Buffalo supermarket.

12
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GeorgeCPW
GeorgeCPW
15 days ago
Reply to  Sarah

Republicans legislate to allow everyone to carry a concealed gun. That is certainly voting for crime.

24
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Lisa
Lisa
14 days ago
Reply to  GeorgeCPW

No it’s actually not. If you’re a thief and you think your target victim could very well be armed, might you hesitate to attack? That’s the point of allowing law abiding citizens to have guns. In this city and other crime ridden cities like Chicago and Philadelphia, the only ones who have guns are the criminals, because the laws make it nearly impossible for law abiding citizen to have guns. Thus, criminals know their prey are unprotected, and have no hesitation in attacking. Statistics show that crime goes down in areas where concealed carry laws are passed, and subsequently rises by nearly the identical margin in adjacent areas that do not have concealed carry laws. Criminals go where the victims are going to be easy targets.

5
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David S
David S
10 days ago
Reply to  Lisa

Lisa;

Assuming that you’re living in the same reality as the rest of us (I have my doubts, but let’s go with that assumption for the moment), you’re certainly aware that NYC has the strictest gun laws in the country, and also has the lowest violent crime rate of any big city in the country. How do you explain in light your fallacious assertion about concealed carry laws and crime rates?

2
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AWG
AWG
12 days ago
Reply to  Lisa

“Statistics show that crime goes down in areas where concealed carry laws are passed”
cite this, please.

0
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JerryV
JerryV
13 days ago
Reply to  Lisa

Lisa, Please cite these statistics that you write about. I note also that the Police in Uvalde all were armed with guns while babies were being murdered. A lot good these guns did!

7
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wsr
wsr
15 days ago

It’s disappointing that the manager asked you to keep it to yourself. It should have been reported.

20
Reply
DAE
DAE
15 days ago

You sound awesome and wonderful! Thank you for taking the time to write about your experience. I have lived in NYC for the last 40 years, always on the West Side, both downtown and uptown….in the last year or so, this is the 1st time, I have ever felt “not safe” I am giving Mayor Adams and the DA’s one more year to get this crime situation under control, and if there is not a significant improvement, I too am relocating. This use to be the greatest city, and it still can be, but those who govern need to be a lot tougher on crime and gun laws! I am advocating a criminal law that says “3 strikes and you are definitely locked up for a long time.”

7
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Karen Bruno
Karen Bruno
15 days ago

I’m beginning to think Manhattan will never be the same..such a shame.

5
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DAE
DAE
15 days ago

PS you sound like an amazing person, I would be happy to join you in going back to Laduree for more coffee ice cream. My Treat!

10
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Frustrated
Frustrated
15 days ago

You should’ve reported it. That’s ridiculous that you did not report this and that’s why the data idoesn’t even show how bad it is and why this will continue even more.

21
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Lisa
Lisa
14 days ago
Reply to  Frustrated

I think you should still report it because it’s important to capture the true statistics. Statistics = political pressure to enforce our laws, fix the ridiculous “bail reform” laws that let everyone go free endlessly, etc. For the first time in my 20 years in NYC, a work colleague was violently mugged (his orbital bone fractured) near MSG after a Rangers game. He didn’t report it because “why bother, nothing will be done.” We can assume that there are, many more of these instances out there. As shocking as the crime statistics are currently, in actuality they’re probably even much, much worse. 🙁

5
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Ira Nieslapper
Ira Nieslapper
15 days ago

From Sarah:

“Beautiful and heart wrenching thank you for sharing. Sadly, voting for any democrat is voting for crime. Republicans would not legislate so as to encourage these crimes. Yes, democrats legislate so as to encourage these crimes.”

Ironic that I read this comment as the Committee Hearing investigating the Republican-led attack on Congress, and insurrection against the United States plays in the background.

12
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Ben
Ben
15 days ago

I’m glad to hear this perspective regarding the crime (so I don’t feel so alone on the UWS). I’ve lived up here for about 5 years. Did his crime not happen prior to the pandemic? Hasn’t there always been crime like this? After all, it is NYC. What do people think?

2
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Lisa
Lisa
14 days ago
Reply to  Ben

No, this is a significant deterioration. I’ve been here for 20+ years and have never seen it this bad. This is a post-pandemic, post- “bail reform” and post-DeBlasio issue.

8
Reply
UWSRachel
UWSRachel
14 days ago
Reply to  Ben

Ben, there has always been crime and homelessness in this neighborhood just like there has and will always be in a major city. Has it risen? Perhaps. But all it takes is a simple search in the Rag’s search bar and you can see prior to the pandemic that the recently closed Rite Aid at 70th & Amsterdam was held at gunpoint 3 times in 2019, and that there were multiple homeless encampments in neighborhood (in front of Well’s Fargo at 70th & Amsterdam, in front of North Face at 73rd & Broadway, along the bike racks next to Apple Bank for Savings at 73rd & Amsterdam) that Rag Reader’s complained about incessantly at the time. People forget because they want to blame the party they don’t agree with because it’s easier and fits their narrative and biases, and they forget because perhaps they were living their lives then and had more going on and the city was busier that they didn’t give it a second thought.

8
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Karen Bruno
Karen Bruno
14 days ago
Reply to  Ben

You came at the absolute worst time. I arrived in 2004 and for awhile it was magical. No empty shops, extremely minimal homelessness and very little crime. I felt safe riding the subway at 3:00 am in Manhattan. Now..forget about!

2
Reply
Mutaman
Mutaman
11 days ago
Reply to  Karen Bruno

It used to be so magical riding the subway at 3:00 AM.

0
Reply
Eric
Eric
14 days ago
Reply to  Ben

I’ve been on West 79th for 45 years…no, it hasn’t always been like this. Maybe in the 60s-70s, but not in my time.

5
Reply
Brandon
Brandon
14 days ago
Reply to  Eric

Well that’s just blatantly false. Crime may be up, but it is not at the worst levels in 45 years — your specific claim.

Check the CompStat data before spreading misinformation, please.

Here’s the 24th Precinct: https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/cs-en-us-024pct.pdf

Here’s the 20th: https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/cs-en-us-020pct.pdf

Read the table at the bottom labeled “Historical Perspective” for a breakdown compared to previous years.

6
Reply
Fred
Fred
15 days ago

Beautifully written and sadly true. I grieve for my home and what its become.

7
Reply
D C
D C
15 days ago

I’m sorry this happened to you.
I’m 60, and keep wondering if NYC is where I wish to grow old.

7
Reply
EGF
EGF
15 days ago

There is nowhere to go to escape this. Crime is on the rise everywhere!

1
Reply
Karen Bruno
Karen Bruno
14 days ago
Reply to  EGF

That’s not true, there are a lot of cities that are very safe. Manhattan, SF, Chicago are the worst. Manhattan wasn’t like this 10 years ago.

3
Reply
alice
alice
14 days ago
Reply to  Karen Bruno

Crime in NYC now is nothing compared to the ’70s and ’80s. These are difficult times now all, here and over the world. Be cautious, keep your perspective, and, above all, keep loving New York, with all its flaws and beauty.

7
Reply
Neighbor
Neighbor
13 days ago
Reply to  alice

I agree. I know all these are problems, but boy, it’s depressing reading articles like this plus most of the comments. A friend’s FB just sported a note in Greek celebrating New York. It’s wonderful that we have places like Ladurée. I was born here, came back in my 20s, and we’re nowhere as bad as those days of the mid-70s.

1
Reply
JMG
JMG
14 days ago

Years ago when I was traveling out of state – while dining out – I saw a man quickly walk through the restaurant and grab a payment in cash that had been left on another table. The waitress was in tears – she would have to pay for the meal. Ever since then, I have always waited and handed the server my payment – whether it is in cash or in credit – This sometimes irritates those dining with me who want to just leave the payment and leave – but to me it ensures that – yes – my credit card/cash isn’t grabbed – but also gives me a chance to personally thank the server –

16
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Holly Lance
Holly Lance
14 days ago

Thanks for sharing this interesting story. In the scheme of things, it could have been so much worse. Thankfully, no one was hurt and you have your cash and card. Job well done!

2
Reply
Holly Lance
Holly Lance
14 days ago

Thanks for sharing your story. In the scheme of things the outcome could have been much worse. Glad that you were able to retrieve your cash and card unharmed!

0
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just_sayin'
just_sayin'
14 days ago

Why did the manager ask you to keep the video to yourself? Why did you? Why did you instead decide to write about the incident? Why not file a police report, complete with video of the the person committing the crime so store owners on Madison would be aware of the person and perhaps recognize her from the video and be aware of her when she enters their establishments. So you’ve got a “fun” story to tell, but you’ve chosen not to help stop this person from committing another crime? Whose side are you on? Why give this criminal a pass?

6
Reply
mark
mark
14 days ago

You seriously thought that taking a 5 minute bus ride to another part of the borough would be any different?
There is no fear of jail time by NYC criminals anymore. Until that changes, we’re stuck with what we have.

2
Reply
EricaC
EricaC
14 days ago

I read about events like this, and I’m sorry for those who have experienced them. My own experience has not been so bad – I’ve not experienced any crime directly. I have come across more disturbed individuals, whether because of drugs, or mental illness, or a combination. I can understand why it would make someone who feels vulnerable feel even more so.

I do think the instant recourse to “blame democrats” is uncalled for, given that crime is rising in all states – and was rising during the prior federal administration as well. The problem is real, and the question about what to do about it is not as simple as locking up everyone who does something wrong, as tempting as that may be.

It is important to remember that there have been other difficult periods, and the thing that got us through is pulling together, both in terms of reporting crimes and in terms of helping people who are struggling. Drug users are unpleasant and sometimes frightening to have around, and I don’t believe that they should be permitted to get away with actions like this simply because they are struggling, but there are few resources even for those people who want help. We might improve our situation by trying to make sure that attention to drug treatment is given weight, as well as punishment for wrong doing. As anyone who deals with an addict knows, it is a very hard road, and being able to get the right kind of help can make all the difference for both the addict and the people living around the addict.

5
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Trish
Trish
14 days ago

Everyone: you must file police reports. No one will be held accountable if no one formally files/presses charges. Not filing just adds to the already absurd amount of impunity floating around. Example: the Target on Columbus, which will not call the cops when theft occurs, instead claiming losses with its insurance company, which in turn sends a message to criminals that it’s okay to steal, which leads to more theft (not to mention higher premiums for everyone, no inventory, inevitable store closures, etc). It’s on all of us to do the right thing. In this case, it’s following up legally.

5
Reply
Claire Shumsky
Claire Shumsky
14 days ago

Wonderful place, wonderful story?

0
Reply
Joe
Joe
14 days ago

DeBlasio really hurt the UWS and UES by neglect, opening homeless shelters, jails, mental health shelters, needle exchange clinics. These were nice safe family oriented neighborhoods. Then obviously defunding police, bail reform, social justice reform, not holding or jailing anyone, legalizing pot, gambling has really hurt all neighborhoods. We made it safer for criminals and dangerous for everyone else.

6
Reply
Mutaman
Mutaman
11 days ago
Reply to  Joe

Legalizing pot has definitely made the city less safe. Statistics show a big increase in the number of people breaking the law by laying on their couches and eating cheetos.

1
Reply
Lynne FUNK
Lynne FUNK
14 days ago

Video is a great tool to be combined with police reports. Side mirrors are being snapped off on the Upper west Side. (Replacement is over 500 dollars) This happened to me on w 73 just west of CPW, near the entry to a big doorman building. I got the video a week later from the building showing the candal and will continue to try to report it. Calling the precinct 3 times, i first got a busy, then no answer, then left a message w no call back. Trying online, the system didnt work but i will try again and attach video. Lynne Funk Architect and 30 -year resident of W 74th St.

1
Reply
JustAnObservation
JustAnObservation
14 days ago

Keep voting the same way and you will get the same results.
When this is realized, things will change.
It is only going to get worse with the current leadership

4
Reply
Ish Kabibble
Ish Kabibble
13 days ago

Lisa and others think handing out guns will solve the problem. The problem is that there is not 1 iota of proof that this is a good idea. It’s a horrible idea. More guns is never a good thing.

3
Reply
JerryV
JerryV
13 days ago
Reply to  Ish Kabibble

They are certainly good for the gun manufacturers.

2
Reply
Sarah
Sarah
12 days ago

I’m really sorry you experienced this sad and scary attempted theft and very glad you didn’t lose your credit card. But I would ask you to consider that you don’t report having experienced crime on the UWS. You didn’t go to the UES to “escape crime,” you went to escape the SPECTER of crime that someone planted in your head. Consider who benefits from doing that.

3
Reply
Nelson
Nelson
12 days ago

I encourage you to report the incident to the appropriate precinct, regardless of how petty or insignificant you feel it may have been. It’s important for establishing patterns, accurate statistics etc. I was the victim of a minor assault last Fall in Riverside Park and after reporting it, I discovered that I’d been the 3rd of 4 such victims, two of whom had been seriously injured. But my report had helped law enforcement establish a pattern, arrange surveillance and make an arrest (and yes, incarceration)! Reporting will also give you an opportunity to meet with a member of NYPD and discuss other concerns and establish a rapport. I am sorry you had an upsetting experience and hope you will not be deterred from enjoying life in the City…and your favorite ice cream!

3
Reply
David S
David S
10 days ago

“He emailed it to me but asked that I keep it to myself”

Nope. Reporting a crime is a responsibility of every citizen. At the very least, post this video on social media, and send it to local news outlets, so that others can be alert if they spot the perpetrator.

2
Reply
Melanie
Melanie
10 days ago

A most descriptive account of a day in the life with Peggy . Wonderfully written and sadly a reality.

1
Reply

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