By Gus Saltonstall
After its traditional summer recess, the Upper West Side’s Community Board 7 resumed its monthly meeting schedule Tuesday night, with a focus on a recent spate of robberies in Central Park.
“We are experiencing an uptick in crime, even if our numbers remain comparatively low to other precincts,” acknowledged Captain Anthony Lavino, commanding officer of the NYPD’s Central Park Precinct, who addressed the board.
Thus far in 2024, police have recorded 44 robberies in the park, up from 15 during the same period last year. According to Lavino, police have made 11 arrests in those cases and expect to make more soon.
Those committing the park robberies, he said, are part of a pattern across the city: “Groups of young teens targeting victims, sometimes in large groups, sometimes smaller, and taking whatever property they might have.”
The robberies by groups of teens began in early June, with 17 recorded in the park this summer, and the pattern has spread beyond the park to midtown Manhattan and Queens, according to Lavino.
“There is some commonality in all of these arrests in the most recent pattern. All of these perpetrators are residents of temporary housing shelters, many of which are in midtown,” Lavino said. “I can’t tell you who they are, but I can tell you where they live: the Roosevelt Hotel and at the Stratford Arms, so we’re seeing a lot of commonality.”
Under a longstanding requirement to provide shelter to anyone who requires it, the city is currently using the Roosevelt Hotel on East 45th Street and Stratford Arms on West 70th Street as temporary housing for some of the more than 200,000 migrants who have arrived in the city over the past two years.
Lavino said many of the Central Park robberies have taken place between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m., particularly on days where there was bad weather and fewer people were out in the park. But he added that crime in Central Park had fallen slightly in recent weeks with the influx of more officers and resources.
And he told the board that after a few high-profile robberies in Central Park last month, the city floated the idea of using a drone to help with surveillance. A drone equipped with a camera was deployed above the park on Sunday for the first time (CB7 board members applauded that news), but Federal Aviation Administration regulations currently limit its use to the area north of 86th Street.
Lavino said the NYPD is working on getting federal clearance to use the drone — part of a pilot program in the city — over the entire park.
“I am happy to say that since we’ve got it in operation, we haven’t really had to use it, and hopefully we continue that way,” Lavino said. “I think it’s going to be a great tool.”
A Quick Word on Vehicles in Central Park
While most of Lavino’s time at the CB7 meeting focused on Central Park robberies, he did note that police in the park precinct have seized 45 illegal vehicles this year, which are unregistered mopeds or electric vehicles traveling on paths where they are not allowed.
He added that patrolling for cyclist violations was a more difficult task.
“As you know we mainly patrol in vehicles, and it can be difficult to stop the cyclists,” he said, though he acknowledged that “We could probably step up our enforcement a little bit more.”
You can watch Lavino’s full remarks to Community Board 7, which begin around the two-minute mark.
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People ride bicycles on park pathways all the time. I have seen police personnel at night sitting in a patrol car maybe 50 feet from a major path, with bicycles going each way.
So if the police aren’t enforcing the laws with their physical presence on the ground how exactly is a drone in the air going to help? Your tax dollar at work.
Photography. Also, radio call alerts. There are only so many police spread out over five boroughs of the largest City, 9-million people, in America. Hope that clarifies it for you.
Apologies to the NYPD! I thought it was a drone illegally flying and filming us!! LOL
Good report – thanks
Please increase police on the UWS.
I came of age in the 1970s on the UWS. Crime at that time was so rampant that everyone knew to always keep alert and always keep aware of who is ahead of you, on the side of you, and behind you. This awareness has to be maintained at all times. I know people who also lived on the UWS in the 1970s and they too know to always keep aware of who and what is around you at all times.
If more people adhered to this kind of awareness, it might cut down on crime.
Situational awareness itself does not cut down on crime. It might prevent you from being a victim to a crime but a criminal intent on perpetrating a crime will just move on to another target.
This is true, but being aware won’t protect you if some perp has targeted you and help isn’t around
So these illegals get to live on one of the most beautiful blocks at Stratford Arms for free and then rob citizens in Central Park? I know how liberal the UPW is but is this acceptable to all you liberals?? The gall and the nerve to come here and pull this crap!
What makes you think only illegals are in temporary housing or are criminals? The country is in a housing crisis for our own citizens. Housing in NYC starts(to buy) at a studio for $400,000 to well over one million dollars. Rents are $3,000 per month … for a studio on the upper west side. We have “domestic” and criminal homeless all over the City.
The article clearly states:
“I can’t tell you who they are, but I can tell you where they live: the Roosevelt Hotel and at the Stratford Arms, so we’re seeing a lot of commonality.”
Those are both dedicated migrant shelters. There are no other guests there besides migrants.
What makes you think “liberals” find this acceptable?
We would have had more a more secure boarder with the bipartisan immigration reform bill, but conservatives blew it up in order to use immigration as a political wedge.
Sorry, you can’t have it both ways. Save your outrage for your next party primary.
Really, you can’t connect the dots. Liberals (who control both NYS and NYC) chose to become a “ sanctuary state/city”, ignore existing federal immigration law, vote to defund the police and let Perpetrators off with cashless bail while filming & criticizing the police for doing their jobs and you don’t see the Cause & Effect? Can one be so blind?
As to your excuse that the “bipartisan” proposal is the cause…here’s an idea…ENFORCE existing law, while trying to change it. It’s worked for 240+ years until the Liberals decided to suspend and then blame the other side if they don’t agree to their proposed change. Now that is crazy. And BTW, having a token few Republican votes doesn’t make it bipartisan.
Get off your high horse. Regardless of political affiliation, no one is happy about this crap. If migrants are found to be guilty of these crimes the Court system, ICE and Homeland Security better have a solution.
This is just it. As a sanctuary city the NYPD are not allowed to report immigrants crimes to ICE. These kids if caught will be back out on the street in no time. I think these kids know this.
“All of these perpetrators are residents of temporary housing shelters, many of which are in midtown…..”
“I can’t tell you who they are, but I can tell you where they live: the Roosevelt Hotel and at the Stratford Arms….”
“… the city is currently using the Roosevelt Hotel on East 45th Street and Stratford Arms on West 70th Street as temporary housing for some of the more than 200,000 migrants who have arrived in the city over the past two years.”
Put two and two together, come up with ‘cuatro’.
Seriously, I’ve written to Central Park Police about harassment by bike riders on the running paths – their only comment was that they didnt want to pursue criminals on bikes for fear of lawsuits if the perpetrators injure themselves. How about protecting the taxpayers???
What possible grounds could a perp running from the police have to sue? Has this ever happened? Utterly ridiculous excuse.
They are “gangs of teens”? So there are lots of teens living in immigrant shelters? Wasn’t aware. I would assume these perps were just “the usual suspects” – the same creeps who ride scooters on sidewalks and rip jewelry and purses from the necks of other people, and local gangs of kids who ride dozens of bicycles the wrong way down Broadway forcing drivers to dodge them, and local gangs of kids who swarm a bodega and steal fruit and whatever else they can grab while trashing the place… I would be surprised if these gangs of teens are immigrants…
Weren’t there supposed to be security guards and curfews at these city-run, taxpayer-sponsored immigrant shelters?
I would have sworn Gale Brewer said there would be security.
Gale? Is there security? Or isn’t there? Are there curfews? Or aren’t there?
How, Gale, are swarms of teams from the shelters roaming the park as late as midnight?
Yes there were supposed to be curfews after the incident where the illegal immigrants ganged up on police in Time Square last Winter. I don’t believe these were ever implemented however and I think that these incidents in Central Park and UWS are proof of this.
Contrast this with city-run homeless shelters where there is a curfew and they are enforced.
Yes there are LOTS of teens living in immigrant shelters, and yes, in multiple cases (going all the way back to the Times Square incident), there have been gangs of immigrant teens involved in these attacks. What does it take for people to wake up and see what’s happening around them?!
From February of 2024: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/exclusive-video-shows-moment-23-people-gang-up-attack-teen-in-times-square-stabbing/5164934/
The people of NY deserve better. We have been tolerant but this is disgusting that our taxes paying for so much and if they are migrants this is totally unacceptable.
Isn’t such behavior unacceptable no matter who is doing it?
Of course but it’s particularly egregious when your tax dollar is paying for you to be less safe and have a lower quality of life. You could also argue that had they not been allowed to cross the border they wouldn’t have been able attack citizens like this.
Crossing the border illegally should result in an automatic denial of any asylum claim.
Crime also went up at the same time the Mayor and the Parks Department without ANY community involvement whatsoever launched the e-bike pilot program in the park! Thousands of bikes with motors that ride at 25-30 mph on Central Park’s roads and pedestrian paths added to an already much too trafficked park. There was so much chaos that mopeds and even motorcycles joined in making the park largely lawless.
Cars were finally banned from Central Park some years ago only to be replaced by motorized bikes and mopeds which makes zero sense!
The police know that e-bikes and mopeds are now the getaway vehicle of choice by criminals. Two serious anti-Semitic attacks happened recently in Central Park by guys on e-bikes.
Grass roots organization nycevsa.org has been fighting to prohibit e-bikes and mopeds in the park as well as license and register them. (E-Vehicle Safety Alliance)
The police now admit they have a tough time chasing e-bikes and mopeds that break the law. Is there any other conclusion one can draw but that the city is under the thumb of Citibike and the delivery companies who contribute big money to our electeds? How else could they be so tone deaf? If you want to be part of a group fighting for safety on our streets and parks join nycevsa.org on 9/24 at 7 pm at St. Paul’s and St. Andrew’s Church at 86th Street and West End Avenue to discuss this ongoing problem.
Pedal bikes were for decades the number one complaint, so what did the City think was going to happen when a motor was added? The City is TOTALLY controlled by Citibike and the restaurant industry. However, the restaurant industry could easily go back to pedal bikes.
Mayor Adams has deployed hundreds of police to sit around Central Park in an effort to make it feel safer. I was walking around the bridle path 2 nights ago and passed a contingent of approximately 15 officers with their bicycles at 92nd St. and East Drive. They were sitting at the picnics tables, leaning against their bikes and chatting with each other. I thought “well, maybe they’ve just been dropped off and started their shift.” My second lap I passed the same group, engrossed in their seated conversation. My third lap, same deal. Zero patrolling was happening. I was so angry.
They go off duty when it gets dark too. I think it’s just to be seen
Like a drone will stop anything…Not impressed. I feel like I can’t even bring my camera or phone or anything else even vaguely valuable to Central Park now..
Almost all of these muggings occur after dark, and in fact after CP has closed at 1AM.
“There is some commonality in all of these arrests in the most recent pattern. All of these perpetrators are residents of temporary housing shelters, many of which are in midtown,” Lavino said. “I can’t tell you who they are, but I can tell you where they live: the Roosevelt Hotel and at the Stratford Arms, so we’re seeing a lot of commonality.”
These are people who entered the country illegally and who are being provided with free lodging, free food, free schooling and free healthcare, compliments of the tax payer.
Your tax dollar is literally going to providing you with a worse quality of life.
Guess what? They get the same in prison — free housing, food, and medical care. Also from your tax dollars. But unfortunately, we need laws to put people in prison and keep them there.
You argument is a type of fallacy known as a “false equivalency.” Politicians use this device all the time – “well what about so and so …” It’s nothing more than an deflection and doesn’t change the original point.. Further, r using tax dollars to lock up criminal does not provide me with a worse quality of life . Quite the opposite as you are safer with a criminal being taken off the street. Paying to house them is nothing more than the cost of safety.
“We are experiencing an uptick in crime, even if our numbers remain comparatively low to other precincts,” acknowledged Captain Anthony Lavino, …”
This is another bit of subterfuge that I see regularly – officials calling an “increase” in crime and “uptick.” The latter word being a much more gentle word. This is called a euphemism. This “uptick” euphemism is invariably followed by a claim that “overall” things are not that bad or that “overall” bad things are lower in reference to something else. These are weasel words and it needs to stop. Please call people out like Captain Anthony Lavino when they insult us with these weasel words.
It does not matter if robberies on the UWS than in East New York. What matters to UWS residents is that robberies are worse than they were previously for the local population.
Are migrants (of any age) who commit crime in the city actually being prosecuted, or are they just being let go with a warning because they are not here legally?
200k new immigrants committing 30 more crimes is not a reason to complain about immigrants. Statistically that is a minor amount (albeit, it’s higher if you factor in crime everywhere as the 45 number is just in the park). Better policing and consequences for the perps will help reduce the issue!