Unique | ‘You gotta have your head on a swivel’
The NYPD positioned an digital billboard truck in entrance of Radio Metropolis Music Corridor on Sixth Avenue in Midtown Friday night time that screamed: “Watch out for pickpockets,” pictures offered to the The Submit present.
Pickpocketing is a recognized drawback in crowded vacationer areas like Occasions Sq., Bryant Park, and close to Rockefeller Middle. To take care of the crime, the NYPD even has a devoted plainclothes “pickpocket unit” that particularly patrols hotspots to catch thieves within the act.
The NYPD’s 18th Precinct, which incorporates Radio Metropolis, noticed a decline in total crime up to now this yr. And petit larceny, which incorporates pickpocketing and retail theft, is down 18% — from 3,036 to 2,486 — in contrast with identical interval final yr, an NYPD spokesman mentioned.
The variety of robberies, which embody drive or intimidation, within the precinct have elevated by 9% to 248 up to now this yr, up from 228 on the identical level final yr, in accordance with NYPD information. However the precinct noticed a considerable lower within the crime throughout the 28-day interval by way of Dec. 28, the spokesman mentioned.
“That is the results of thorough police work and relentless follow-up by personnel from Midtown North precinct,” the spokesman mentioned.
Robberies spiked earlier this yr as a result of giant inflow of non permanent migrant housing within the space and has since largely recovered, a police supply mentioned.
Pickpocketing is “straightforward as a result of, particularly as girls, we present our issues typically, as an alternative of preserving it in sure spots,” mentioned Beverly Paterson, 77, patting her chest and including that “every part is correct right here, despite the fact that I received a backpack.”
In response to the Massive Apple’s pickpocketing dilemna, the retired instructor initially from Georgia who now lives within the Bronx emphasised warning, particularly throughout the holidays and within the extra touristy areas.
“This metropolis could be very large and you must watch out about who you meet, the place you’re at, and every part,” mentioned Paterson.
“I all the time have one thing to defend myself with … you see this man proper right here?” she mentioned, gesturing to her cane. “It may be used as a weapon.”
Retired protection trade worker Bob Kuppelmeyer, 64, was ready for his son and his girlfriend outdoors of Radio Metropolis and famous that “lots of people are naive.”
“Individuals ought to be very cautious about what’s occurring round right here, you understand, there’s a whole lot of scammers and also you gotta have your head on a swivel,” mentioned Kuppelmeyer, who grew up in Richmond Hill, Queens.
Kuppelmeyer, who now lives in Lengthy Island, believes that the scammers “go after company from different cities and international locations as a result of they could suppose that is Utopia.”
“My pockets has all the time been in my entrance pocket, by no means been in my again pocket, since I’ve been 18,” he mentioned.
“In New York, you must simply watch who you’re, the place you’re, who you’re with and crowds — and arms,” mentioned Bay Ridge resident Peter Talocci, who was on the leisure venue Saturday. “These guys are good, and ladies, they’re actually good.”
All of the slick shifting thieves must do is “brush up in opposition to you and so they know so quick: pocketbooks, open pockets, money, watches … they’re quick — very quick,” mentioned Talocci, who works on the Brooklyn Justice Initiative.
Baltimore-area resident Ella Worstell, 17, mentioned she noticed the NYPD signal Friday night time on her method to see the present Heathers off Broadway with mates.
Seeing the signal was humorous to her as a result of she had simply spent a Euro summer season in France the place pickpocketing is “actually large,” she mentioned.
“We had been speaking about the way it’s not talked about within the US, after which we noticed the signal and it was actually humorous and ironic,” Worstell mentioned.
The teenager realized a hack abroad and now hides her crossbody purse beneath her coat, she added.
