By Daniel Katzive
Grand larceny auto (GLA) remains a stubborn outlier in otherwise improving crime metrics on the Upper West Side. Thieves continue to target Hondas, Kias, Acuras, and Hyundais, according to commanding officers in the 20th and 24th precincts. Thefts have persisted despite concerted efforts to combat the surge.
The two precincts have reported a total of 92 auto thefts so far this year. That is nearly double the 55 thefts recorded in the first six months of 2022.
Captain Noreen Lazarus, Commanding Officer of the 24th Precinct, told the precinct’s community council meeting this week that the problem is concentrated along Riverside Drive and extends beyond the Upper West Side to the north. She said thieves equipped with the means to override the vehicles’ electronic security systems can take a car in 60 seconds or less, making it very difficult to catch perpetrators in the act, even as the precinct has stepped up patrols.
Deputy Inspector Neil Zuber had a similar message at the 20th Precinct council meeting to the south. Thieves are using electronic devices to mimic the key fobs of Hondas and Acuras, which makes it almost impossible to tell when a car is being stolen rather than driven away by its legitimate owner. Cars are typically scrubbed for resale or shipped overseas by organized gangs.
The viral TikTok Kia challenge continues to be another driver of GLA in the neighborhood, according to Zuber. Thieves in these cases are typically taking the vehicles for joy rides and later abandoning them, sometimes on the Upper West Side, but more often in the Bronx. Zuber said the precinct had some success recently in apprehending a group of would-be thieves thanks to a 911 call from an observant resident, but the youthful offender status of the suspects meant they were not held.
Both precinct commanders urged residents to call 911 if they observe suspicious behavior around parked vehicles.
Aside from GLA, crime statistics on the West Side continue to improve overall, particularly in the 20th precinct where total index crimes reported were down by about one-third in the latest 28-day period from the same period in 2022. Notwithstanding the better statistics, area residents (at least those residents who attend precinct community council meetings) do not appear to feel safer. Many spoke up about increasing concerns relating to unhoused and seemingly mentally ill people on the streets acting in a threatening manner. Both precinct commanders encouraged residents to call 911 if they feel threatened or unsafe.
Concerns about bicycles, ebikes, and illegal mopeds and motorcycles also ranked high among resident complaints. Sargeant Jared Petrassi, the traffic officer for Patrol Borough Manhattan North, which oversees all the precincts north of 59th Street, told the 24th Precinct Community Council meeting that his officers have significantly stepped up their efforts to confiscate illegal motorcycles and mopeds, organizing check points and even occasionally briefly closing bridges into Manhattan to safely take the vehicles.
Community Council meetings at both precincts are on hiatus until September. When they resume, meetings in the 20th Precinct will shift to the fourth Monday of the month, instead of Thursday, while in the 2-4 meetings will continue to be held on the third Wednesday of the month.
If the penalty for stealing a car is anything like the penalties for stealing anything else, it may be a good place to start. Anyone who read the article about the fruit vendor saw that it took Federal charges to get any meaningful punishment for the perp in that case.
If NYC doesn’t have intent to punish those who steal, you may as well archive this article and print it every 6 months and save yourselves the trouble of re-writing it….
“Concerns about bicycles, ebikes, and illegal mopeds and motorcycles also ranked high among resident complaints. ”
Concerns about being hit by, if one is a pedestrian anywhere on the UWS.
There’s also a general “concern” that the NYPD is doing nothing about the illegal driving of these machines. “Concern” is a polite way of saying that the NYPD is telling pedestrians to … f.
Please print your solutions to how the NYPD should go after a vehicle moving at 30 mph. Chase the person? Ride the cop car on the sidewalk behind the moped or bike? How does this work exactly? And once the driver is caught, then what? Issue a ticket that will never get paid? Confiscate the bike illegally? What? I’m all ears.
Very simple. BAN E-BIKES in the city. PERIOD. Provide very stiff penalties against their use, including mandantory sentencing jail times. Why on earth are we allowing unregistered motorized vehicles (electric) in the city to be flying 3 feet off the sidewalk in the first place?? BAN THEM ALL.
@Sam Katz:
The NYPD can use hand held stills cameras. Several have extraordinary tracking autofocus capacity, while low light performance has vastly improved in the last 10 years. The camera’s resolution will allow for recording exact details of the driver, location, and e machine.
Then in some instances, those photo files will allow for identification of the law breakers. So they can be found (which will take work by the NYPD), and their machines can be seized.
Easier: a padlock through to the disc brake vents will quickly immobilize an e-bike/e-scooter, or illegal motor cycle. So cops in plain clothes can simply wait until they witness sidewalk driving, or red light running, and if the driver stops to do a delivery a block away, the machine can be immediately incapacitated while it is NOT in motion and the driver is inside doing the delivery. The machine would then be seized and the driver heavily fined. Yes, I realize that in many cases the NYPD would have to cut the lock/chain the driver used when parking so as to remove the machine to impound, but that’s what portable angle grinders and bolt cutters are for.
You’re making sorry excuses for the repeated failure of the NYPD.
Repeated failure of NYPD? Not our elected politicians, only NYPD?
Only the NYPD on the streets.
If you have evidence that say Mayor Adams has told the NYPD to ignore law breaking by delivery guys on e-bikes an d also the drivers of unplated small, and large, motorcycles, then share that evidence.
You are correct, the state of NY should not have legalized speedlimited throttle e-bikes (mopeds) and e-scooters in early 2019.
Ask yourself what happens if NYPD arrest any of the perpetrators, what happens next?
That’s your answer.
UWS:
the machines will be seized and there will be a steep fine (say $500) to get them back, not really necessary to arrest the driver.
Well, no. The job of the NYPD is to enforce the law. The job of the Department of Justice is to try and sentence offenders. The fact that Justice is failing in their job doesn’t mean that the NYPD gets to simply not do their job, does it?
David – I think the issue is the police feel they have no incentive to spend their time arresting people who will not be prosecuted.
Depends how you define crime. Sure rape, burglary and murder may be down.
1) Bikes and e-bikes on the sidewalks
2) Not following road rules (all vehicles)
3) Not following traffic patterns (all vehicles)
4) Petit Larceny
5) Illegal drug use
6) Random violent acts (eg, Maria Danzillo)
No enforcement and rates have dramatically increased.
But those numbers don’t count.
It would seem only logical that, a thief is old enough to steal a car, he or she should be old enough to pay for it.
Unlike many other crimes, stolen vehicle crimes NEVER go unreported, as there are insurance claims to be made on them. Are other crimes really “down” or have people just given up reporting them, or have they been dismissed by the powers that be? I would be very wary that this is the only crime that is isn’t going away, more likely, they can’t fudged the stats on these.
Actually, lots of older cars aren’t insured against theft. When a car gets old it’s normal to drop “comprehensive” coverage.
And there’s another crime that always gets reported, murder. How do you explain the fact that murders are down, and are way down from the “safe” years under Giuliani?
had the same thought
Glad my car doesn’t have a key fob!
Glad I don’t have a car! One less worry.
I had an Acura in the 90s and even back then Acuras and Hondas were known as popular cars to steal. You would think they would have learned something in the last 30 years.
I agree that there continues to be major quality of life issues. Lots of people who clearly are not in their right mind wandering the streets and on the subway. A few days ago at about 7 pm I saw a man on Broadway in the low 80s with a blanket around him and only wearing underwear, muttering and zigzagging across the sidewalk. This is not OK. Letting him live like this is not “protecting his rights.” He needs help. Not being warehoused in a Safe Haven help. Real help. For his sake as much as ours. And this is only one of many examples. I thought Kendra’s law was the way to accomplish this?
Until elected public officials take our complaints of feeling unsafe seriously, nothing will change. It needs to be a focus on public safety with a more firm but fair stance to make a change where we feel comfortable walking after dark again. Mom & Pop stores and small businesses suffer greatly when it gets dark if people do not feel safe walking when after sunset. That will be 5pm come October.
If people would please open their minds and really ask tough questions of future candidates, there can finally be a real change in our neighborhood if people take 30 minutes to go VOTE and vote for public safety for everyone.
Perhaps NYC should sue more auto makers so thefts stop. This is actually happening. This is not the Onion: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/06/07/public-nuisance-hyundai-kia.html?&qsearchterm=kia
Electric bikes are on the SIDEWALKS going 40 mph!!!!
Bikes of all kinds on sidewalks are a problem – trust me, I was hit by a motorcyclist (not an e-bike/moped) while on the sidewalk a few months ago and needed surgery.
But you ruin the argument with the 40mph assertion. No bikes are doing 40mph on the sidewalks. Even 20mph is an exaggeration. 12-15mph max is reality. A bike on the sidewalk at anything other than a walking speed is a problem. But please stop with the exaggerated exaggeration.
And police are in their station houses going 0 mph. I do not recall the last time I saw a police officer walking the street or stopping a patrol car to look.
I have full views all day out large windows and have seen officers constantly walking the sidewalks and I have seen officers consistently stop their cars responding to calls, every day. They are there. But if there were more officers, then that would be a greater help. That won’t happen under the city’s current elected officials as they continually claim more police are not needed. Again – taking 30 minutes to vote for better public safety would make the difference.
Do you own a Dunkin’ Donuts? Because I see police riding around in cars and using their sirens to burn red lights, but very little actual policing takes place. I also observe constant illegal parking (of privately owned non service vehicles) and rampant unchecked placard abuse. Have you tried calling the police to come to an emergency? How helpful were they? My recent experiences have been very disillusioning.
This is not an indictment of law enforcement in general, it’s a plea for someone to take notice and kick the department back into shape. We need police and law enforcement, the protest marches were 3 years ago, and there is no excuse for them to be shirking essential responsibilities. I don’t expect them to forcibly tackle a escooter “riding 30mph” — but right now, they don’t even flinch when a truck rides by a sidewalk. There has to be a reasonable medium.
The police should prevent and stop crimes regardless of whether the DA eventually prosecutes or not. I get that they are frustrated about having to arrest the same people over and over again — but that’s the nature of the job itself. Recidivism didn’t just begin with Alvin Bragg. It is odd and unnerving to me that the police only want to stop crimes that they will get credit for later.
I own an independent small business and YES, I have had to call for emergencies and they have come within 5 minutes each time. I am speaking for the 24th precinct only. I see them walking their beat and if driving, I have seen them pulling over people. I am thankful to the 24th precinct for always trying no matter how discouraging it is that they will still be filling out the paperwork and the person they took in for breaking the law is walking out before they get done. There is a lot of policing taking place in the 24th precinct. Can’t speak for the 20th. Half of your small businesses above 86th street wouldn’t still be here if the 24th precinct didn’t do their job.
“It is odd and unnerving to me that the police only want to stop crimes that they will get credit for later.” Anyone who has worked for a corporation or a bureaucracy knows that people ONLY do what they will get credit for. That’s why people’s goals are so important. If we want the NYPD to police quality of life crimes, we have to change their goals and incentive/promotion structure.
I live near the police station on 82 Street between Columbus & Amsterdam Ave for over 24 years & never ever see any police walking around the area. Where are they hiding?
i did see them stop someone outside the starbucks right there on by 81st once
Parking along anywhere on riverside drive is a gamble I won’t take anymore. The long stretch up to 135th is now a prime target for criminals, especially vandals and car thieves. More light is needed. More police patrols are needed. It should be a priority. You know not everyone can afford a $500 a month garage.
Please tell me where one would even find a $500 garage on the UWS today.
You can park your car in a garage at 125th St. or north of that for $300 a month (and even less, if you’re lucky). It’s a good option if you only use the car on weekends. Just hop a subway to pick it up and after dropping it off.
Kippervasser, Please give us all the exact name and location of the $300 garage. I have not found one for less than $400.
Back in 1990,s I used to park near Riverside Drive around 80 Street to 96 Street because it was easier to find a spot but there were many break-ins & thefts of cars. So I stopped parking around there. The only thing that has changed since then is that it has gotten much worse. Why?
That the problem is so well known and not mitigated is a failure of the NYPD to do their jobs. I’m tired of hearing that cops say their hands are tied. If local precincts can’t fix the problem, a task force should be created. Currently, we’re paying for a police force that is inferior and non-performing.
Neighborhood watch is a good idea. Sign me up!
Go to a community precinct meeting and they will tell you how much they are patrolling Riverside. There are officers purposely on the midnight shifts just for that reason. If you don’t think so, then please reach out to the Captain of the station as they will make time for you. They always do.
Their hands are tied because if they try to arrest someone for a lot of the crimes being discussed here, the person arrested is immediately released. I am not sure whether more of the blame lies with how the laws are written or how they are being prosecuted – I think it is a little of each.
There need to be harsher penalties for quality of life crimes, particularly for repeat offenders. Someone shouldn’t get life for a first time shoplifting or whatever else, but it shouldn’t be hard to keep track of this and once someone has done something like that (or something more significant) a few times, there should be meaningful punishment. This will get them off the streets and deter others. It really isn’t that hard.
Being released on bail, or without bail, has nothing to do with how harsh the penalties for the crime are. People are only punished for a crime AFTER they are found guilty. Bail and bail reform are PRE trial and therefore are not part of the punishment.
I generally agree regarding bail. People place too much emphasis on bail reform. Yes, it is part of the problem, but there are much bigger issues.
As you suggested (but missed my point), I was focusing on the punishments after being found guilty. They are way too lax. Repeat offenders still get away with a slap on the wrist. How many times do we have to hear about someone who has committed numerous crimes and has barely had any punishment. If you are found guilty 5+ times, I don’t care how small the individual crimes were, there should be a meaningful punishment. The person clearly has a problem and should face consequences.
Where do you find a $500 per month garage
I wish I could find a $500 a month garage in the neighborhood. More like $750 minimum
Per my earlier post, head north. You can find garages at 125th St. and north for about $300. Not great if you’re using the car daily, but if you only use it on weekends, the garage is an easy subway ride away.
Honda claims that while you can capture the radio transmission to open the car it won’t allow you to drive it:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2022/07/13/honda-key-fobs-hackers-what-to-know/10050957002/
Except they are driving the cars away…
I think the upper west side specifically between 92-110th is so filthy, weedy and lawless that the perception is no one is watching and no one cares and that high levels of disarray feel unsafe. Sidewalks are cracked, poop isn’t scooped, trash overflows and this is on all the avenues. Some of the larger rental buildings on West End don’t seem to have the same standards as the co-ops. Sidewalks left stinking/unwashed, tree boxes filled with debris. Buildings used to get fined for sub-standard maintenance, no?
Are the car thefts specifically happening with cars that are push-start? My car requires a key inserted into the ignition.
I don’t believe that any car manufactured in the past 50 years _can_ be push-started without the ignition turned on. Maybe a diesel with a manual transmission? But the compression ratio in a diesel is so high that I’d think it would be a bear to get moving fast enough.
I’m not sure what you’re talking about and it seems like you’ve misunderstood what I’m asking. I’m talking about modern cars in which you push a button to start it. Did you think I meant pushing the car like Fred Flintstone to start it?
Diesel cars? It must be more than 10 years since I have seen any new cars sold in America, except for some trucks. Which is why diesel cars are hard to steal.
“the youthful offender status of the suspects meant they were not held” – I suggest WSR asks electeds Linda Rosenthal and Brad Hoylman how they feel about their wholehearted support for “Raise the age” (which resulted in younger criminals like the ones described here)
Statistics mean nothing to me. I don’t believe any of them. The city is being run by liberals who have proven over the past 5 years to be capable of doing and saying ANYTHING in order to achieve thier goals. This city is on a precipe. There are very large amounts of money at stake for very wealthy people, most of all those in real estate who can’t just pick up and move operations to Florida. Tourism is way down. Midtown still basically empty. I do not believe the statistics. Also, has anything factored in that many people are not even reporting crimes because they know perps are going to be OUT THAT EVENING and that calling the police is basically pointless except for the most egregious violent crimes? Who wants to involve the police and subject themselves to further retailiation from a perp who is going to be out of jail SAME DAY and never receive punishment?? How many businesses are calling the police these days for theft? ZERO. Stop talking about the statistics and go with your eyes, what you actually see on the streets and subways. We are living in an environment of wanton violence and crime and the tables have turned against law abiding citizens. These citizens, probably many of them, are no longer participating in NYC’s version of “justice”.
Here’s the thing. What I see on the streets and subways with my eyes is an extremely safe city (with the exception of the ebikes/motorcyles going through every light and disobeying all rules). I see a lot of homeless people, which I have seen always since I’ve been here in 1995. I don’t see an increase in major crimes. I don’t see an increase in crimes on the subway. I understand you may see those things, but I don’t. Every person sees something different. That’s why STATISTICS and FACTS that you dismiss are important. They’re all we actually have to go on, not your subjective views, which may be influenced by what you read in, oh, the comment section on WSR. So, yeah, I’m gonna believe statistics and facts and not some random poster on here.
I see many unhinged people yelling and menacing in the streets and subways that I did not see before. this has become the norm, and it leads to a perception that it is more dangerous than it is. it is also extremely stressful and unpleasant. in and of itself. People react by curtailing activities, avoiding places they would not have before. it’s a big issue.
On my block high schoolers sit on stoops and smoke weed before school, during lunch and after school. I am not against weed smoking as such, but you get a bunch of high 17 year olds in a group and you do need to be careful not to look at them wrong, bump into them as they goof off on the sidewalk, not to say anything as they throw their drink/food containers on the floor or stairs of the brownstone they took over etc… Several times walking by, I see them staring at people basically daring them to say something. I now avoid going out at those times, and this is on 83 street. is this violence that shows up on stats? no, but to ignore that the possibility of increased violence isn’t there is also foolish. it’s also a dramatic decrease in quality of life. Honestly if my job didn’t require it I would absolutely move to the burbs, and I have never felt that before.
also consider that statistics aren’t telling you the full picture because once the population knows the police in’t going to do anything, they don’t report it. so small crimes that are traumatic to the victims like muggings where the victim isn’t physically hurt, why bother reporting it?
I see a lot of aggressive panhandling: this happens to my mom every week, an aggressive panhandler will get in her face and ask for $1 and will basically follow her asking until she gives it. they don’t make overt threats, but this is a mugging in all but name. she went to the cops once and they basically said no threat no violence no crime.
So we should believe your biased gut feelings instead of the data?
And why would billionaires with NYC real estate investments put up with the scenario you outlined and watch the deterioration of their wealth?
Your illogic is obvious.
What many people fail to understand about our subway system is that most riders aren’t enthusiastic about using the subway system. They merely tolerate the subway system and use other modes the minute something better comes along that happens to be just convenient enough. That’s why people freak out about crime even if its much lower than 1990. When you build a ridership on tolerance and not genuinely liking using the system, you will have problems even if you drive crime down or have the entire NYPD patrolling the subways.
I’m sure the bike lobby is happy that cars are getting stolen. Tactical urbanism as they say.
as to the bikes, it wouldn’t hurt for people to stop ordering everything for delivery. this upticked in the pandemic, understandably but has continued. it’s ridiculous.
I have 20-somethings in my building, no kids, who constantly order everything fro businesses a few blocks away. go pick it up! these same people will then moan and groan about inflation, when the delivery service basically increases food cost 30%. many restaurants have 2 prices, when you order through a service it’s a lot more. Ditto with things like Fresh Direct etc… if you don’t have a newborn, are able bodied etc… why live in a place within couple of blocks of everything and rely on delivery services??
as usual society is focused on the supply side.