NYPD blames migrant gang for rise in crime in Central Park
Police say a group of migrants is behind the spike in crime in Central Park. One of the suspects is just 11 years old. FOX 5 NY’s Stephanie Bertini has the details.
Central Park – The New York police are now blaming a migrant gang for the rise in crime in New York’s Central Park.
One of the migrants is only 11 years old.
After three robberies, the NYPD is sending extra cops to curb crime. The NYPD says it is now sending an additional 40 cops to patrol Central Park daily from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
“We will not tolerate crime in one of the most iconic places in the world,” said Tarik Sheppard, NYPD deputy commissioner of information.
The 11-year-old was just arrested and is linked to what the New York Police Department calls a “larger pattern of robberies by young migrants in Central Park.”
RELATED: Crime in Central Park increases, 3 robberies in less than 24 hours
“The first message is that we need to keep this park safe. We’re going to have police officers here for a long time so people see us,” said John Chell, chief of NYPD patrol. “Crime in this park has gone up because of the robberies.”
FOX News Police are reportedly linking about 10 robberies that took place in the park or at its southern end to a group of up to 12 migrant boys, the NYPD said at a press conference outside the park on Wednesday. There, police announced that dozens of officers would be deployed to the tourist hotspot to counter the worrying increase in attacks.
Wednesday morning
NYPD investigates robbery near 97th Street
The New York Police Department is investigating a robbery near the 97th Street Transverse that occurred on a tennis court shortly before 10:30 a.m. Wednesday morning.
According to police sources, a man in his 30s pushed an 82-year-old woman in Central Park near the tennis courts on Wednesday morning. It happened around 10:17 a.m.
The man pushed her and said: “You shouldn’t be here,” police sources said.
The man then fled the scene. According to police, she suffered minor injuries to her knees, nose and elbows.
She was treated by the emergency services.
Tuesday night
According to police, two male suspects approached two 20-year-old men, started a conversation and then robbed them.
It happened at the corner of West 62nd Street and West Drive before 10:45 p.m.
The suspects did not display any weapons, but were able to get away with a chain and a vape pen. The victims were not injured.
No arrests were made.
Tuesday morning
At around 1 a.m., three different people were robbed right outside the park entrance at the corner of 5th Avenue and 59th Street.
Teenagers arrested for alleged robberies in Central Park
A group of teenagers have been arrested for allegedly assaulting three people in Central Park, police said. The incident came at a time of heightened safety concerns around the park. FOX 5 NY’s Linda Schmidt has the details.
According to police, the victims, aged 15, 21 and 35, were approached by a group of male suspects, one of whom claimed to have a gun and pointed to his waistband.
The suspects are said to have fled with a pair of Apple AirPods and a necklace, but were eventually caught by police.
Three teenagers aged 14, 16 and 17 were arrested, one is still at large. None of the victims were injured.
NYC Crime Statistics
Mayor Eric Adams on crime and migrants
FOX 5 NY speaks with Mayor Eric Adams about several recent crimes, including an increase in attacks in Central Park and the ongoing refugee crisis.
While this may be the case citywide, NYPD crime statistics show that serious crimes in Central Park are up 46% this year compared to the same period last year. Robberies, meanwhile, are up 200%.
In the nearby Midtown North Precinct, overall crime increased by 10% and robberies increased by 87%.
According to John Chell, chief of the NYPD, crime in Central Park has increased significantly this year, mainly due to robberies.
“There are no secrets here, crime in this park has increased this year. More specifically, robberies are commonplace here,” Chell said. “At this point, we are ready to call it out. This is a pattern of robberies by migrants.”
How long the increased patrols will last and what effect they will have on crime rates remains to be seen. The NYPD is asking anyone who can identify suspects in recent robberies to contact police.
FOX News contributed to this report.
