Rash Of Car Break-Ins Plagues Bathgate Section Of The Bronx
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Cars have been getting broken into left and right in one Bronx neighborhood, and the problem is so pervasive that the streets are littered with glass.
As CBS2's Tracee Carrasco reported, residents of the Bathgate section of the Bronx are pleading for help.
Shards of glass from smashed car windows line the streets of the neighborhood, and residents here said these break-ins are now an everyday occurrence.
Abigail Hernandez said she has had her car broken into at least four times, so many that she now gets a discount at the body shop.
"They already know us, because we take the car over there so many times," she said.
Residents said the crooks are taking anything and everything they can.
"In my car, they took the GPS. They've stolen the car seats. They've stolen my kids' toys," Hernandez said.
Barbie Melendez said her car window was broken, and thieves stole her backpack, an iPod, an E-ZPass, loose change, and phone chargers.
"I didn't have anything out that anybody could, you know, have an interest for breaking into my car," she said.
According to the NYPD, only 21 car break-ins have been reported in the neighborhood. But residents said that number is probably more than double.
"Many of them haven't been reporting it, because they feel like, what's the use?" Melendez said.
Neighbors said no one is doing anything to fix the ongoing problem.
"We have no security, no police," Hernandez said. "The lights -- there's no lighting."
CBS2 reached out to the office of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Staff there said they will continue to work with the NYPD to identify solutions to the issue.
