Queens is car-theft king
Borough leads city in stolen vehicles
Last Updated: 5:18 AM, November 16, 2010
Posted: 1:39 AM, November 15, 2010
Comments: 18 
PrintIf you're heading into Queens, maybe it's better to leave the car behind.
An average of eight cars a day get snatched off the streets of the borough's leafy neighborhoods -- making it the auto-theft capital of the Big Apple.
And the number of cars disappearing in the borough has been steadily climbing.
So far this year, 3,037 cars have been stolen, an increase of 9.2 percent since last year, according to NYPD Compstat figures released Nov. 9.
The dismal borough stats represent 34 percent of the total number of vehicles stolen citywide.
City Councilman Peter Vallone of Queens, the council's Public Safety Committee chairman, attributes the upswing to a diminishing police presence in the area.
"Our precincts are staffed at half the level they were 10 years ago," Vallone said. "Cops are doing the best they can, but there just aren't enough troops."
The borough's accessibility to major highways and bridges also makes it a top pick for thieves, Vallone said.
When hunting for vehicles, goons are most likely to target Honda Civics and Accords, the top two cars stolen in the city, records show.
The next three vehicle makes most likely to be stolen are the Nissan Maxima, Toyota Camry and Ford Econoline van, according to the NYPD.
When crooks don't take an entire car, they'll take its wheels and rims, authorities said. Lately, there have been reports of several car-stripping incidents in Astoria and Bayside.
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/queens/qns_is_car_theft_king_cYoF7fIRqrEZxGtAVLRnjI#ixzz15YRf71xF
This just happened to me!!! my tires were stolen in Kew Gardens. It is not the first time I see this around the neighborhood. We need better police patrol!!
ReplyDeleteHey Lenpe,
DeleteI'm writing a story on car tires being stolen. I'd be interested to hear your story. Please send me an email at Sarah.Nir@nytimes.com