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Is Unseasonably Warm Weather The Reason For Increased City Crime?

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The latest weather forecast indicates that temperatures won't get above freezing this weekend.

Looking on the bright side, that may not be such a bad thing depending on who you ask.

Some are blaming the mild weather this winter on an increase in city crime last month.

Warm Weather To Blame For Crime? 1010 WINS' Al Jones Reports

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NYPD statistics show that major crimes in January 2012 increased by 5.7 percent as compared to January 2011. In northern Manhattan, the numbers are even higher -- an 11 percent jump.

NYPD officials believe the unseasonably warm temperatures are to be blamed for for the uptick in criminal activity -- including robberies, burglaries and grand larcenies, according to a DNA Info report.

"That is the only factor that seems to have changed. Last winter the city was buried in snow, and now there has been barely a snow flake," one official told the website.

While colder weather have moved into the area the last couple of days, Monday and Tuesday saw temperatures at or above 50 degrees.

Walking along West 123rd Street in Harlem, Robert Grant told 1010 WINS' Al Jones he's noticed an upswing in crime, but says he is not alarmed.

"They be doing the stupid things, like not no serious crime. They fight each other and all that kind of stuff," he said.

But others, like Herb Taylor, of Flatbush, Brooklyn think increased crime has a lot less to do with weather and a lot more to do with unemployment and lack of opportunity.

"I think it's a lack of jobs, education -- basically what it's always been," he said. "When I grew up, there was after-school programs, now there's nothing but the streets," he said, "and we all know what's out in the streets -- no good."

A slight increase in crimes last year, broke a 20-year string of declines.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS: Do you think weather is responsible for the increase in crime?

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