NEW YORK—According to NYPD statistics, crime in Central Park increased by 44 percent from 2009 to 2010. The greatest increase was in narcotics arrests: 71 arrests took place in 2010, up from 34 in 2009, at an increase of 108 percent.
The second greatest increase was found in grand larcenies: 63 incidents were reported in 2010, compared to 40 in 2009, at an increase of 57.5 percent. The NYPD reports that most of these cases involved people leaving their belongings unattended.
“If there’s a credit card with the unattended property, that’s all it takes for the theft to be automatically recorded as grand larceny,” explained Deputy Inspector Kim Y. Royster in a statement. In 2010, crimes went up almost across the board from the previous year: 7 rapes were reported, compared to 0 in 2009; 23 robberies, compared to 20; and 1 grand larceny auto, compared to 0.
No murders took place in either 2009 or 2010. Felony assaults held steady at 6 incidents in both years. The only decrease was found in burglary, with 2 reported incidents in 2010 down from 3 in 2009.
“While any crime increase concerns us, Central Park remains the safest precinct in the city. Even with over 20 million visitors annually, Central Park has the lowest number of crimes compared to any other precinct,” said Deputy Inspector Kim Y. Royster in a statement.
“That is the standard PR line,” responded Geoffrey Croft of NYC Park Advocates, who first published a report on the statistics. He conceded that it may be the safest precinct if the number of crimes are counted in relation to the number of people in the park, but he argues the claim to a safe environment in the park is misleading.
The precinct has seen the greatest increase in crime rate in the city, Croft pointed out. NYC Park Advocates first drew attention to the alarming increase in June 2010, when the rate was up 52 percent over the previous year.
A steady decline of permanently-assigned officers led up to the spike in crime, said Croft. The NYPD did, however, increase its efforts after the problem became evident last summer.
When asked if they intend to further increase security in the park, the NYPD declined to comment.
The second greatest increase was found in grand larcenies: 63 incidents were reported in 2010, compared to 40 in 2009, at an increase of 57.5 percent. The NYPD reports that most of these cases involved people leaving their belongings unattended.
“If there’s a credit card with the unattended property, that’s all it takes for the theft to be automatically recorded as grand larceny,” explained Deputy Inspector Kim Y. Royster in a statement. In 2010, crimes went up almost across the board from the previous year: 7 rapes were reported, compared to 0 in 2009; 23 robberies, compared to 20; and 1 grand larceny auto, compared to 0.
No murders took place in either 2009 or 2010. Felony assaults held steady at 6 incidents in both years. The only decrease was found in burglary, with 2 reported incidents in 2010 down from 3 in 2009.
“While any crime increase concerns us, Central Park remains the safest precinct in the city. Even with over 20 million visitors annually, Central Park has the lowest number of crimes compared to any other precinct,” said Deputy Inspector Kim Y. Royster in a statement.
“That is the standard PR line,” responded Geoffrey Croft of NYC Park Advocates, who first published a report on the statistics. He conceded that it may be the safest precinct if the number of crimes are counted in relation to the number of people in the park, but he argues the claim to a safe environment in the park is misleading.
The precinct has seen the greatest increase in crime rate in the city, Croft pointed out. NYC Park Advocates first drew attention to the alarming increase in June 2010, when the rate was up 52 percent over the previous year.
A steady decline of permanently-assigned officers led up to the spike in crime, said Croft. The NYPD did, however, increase its efforts after the problem became evident last summer.
When asked if they intend to further increase security in the park, the NYPD declined to comment.
