Central Park Crime Rate Sees 52 Percent Spike
NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Nowhere else in the city has crime taken a bigger jump than in Central Park, according to the NYPD.
The park has seen a 52 percent increase in felonies during the first 7 months of this year as compared to 2009. The biggest increase in those crimes has been in grand larcenies, 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria reports.
In comparison, Coney Island's crime rate has seen a 15 percent increase and Crown Heights' rate is up 12 percent.
On Thursday, police arrested a man accused of three armed holdups at the park near East Drive between 81st and 84th streets.
Tourists along with mothers and nannies accompanying their young children say they feel safe, but are taking some extra precautions just to be sure.
"When I'm with my kid, I'm usually here in the daylight where there [are] tons of people around," Natalie Grobler told D'Auria, "And I really don't go where there's areas that are dark or alone."
NYPD spokesman Paul Browne tried to downplay the whopping rate increase, telling the Post, crime at Central Park has been historically low and "any increase produces higher percentages than a place with more crime."
Grobler says she would like to see more police patrolling the area, but warns people should be vigilant especially when venturing into the park at night.
"I think we all need to use common sense," Grobler said.
