Visitors to Central Park are reporting over four times more robberies so far this year than in the same period last year.
There have been 18 reported robberies in the park so far this year — a crime defined as someone stealing property by using force or the threat of force, according to NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey. That’s up from four robberies during the same period last year, Maddrey said.
There have been 12 reported incidents of grand larceny — a crime defined as someone stealing property without using force — in the park this year, up from eight last year.
Maddrey said the NYPD will send more police officers to Central Park, and add surveillance cameras there.
The department is “significantly” increasing its presence throughout the park, officials said. A recent string of robberies began on Thursday, when a 28-year-old woman reported that her phone and wallet were stolen, police said. She was reportedly hit in the face on West Drive near West 97th Street.
“This is one of the most iconic locations in New York City,” Maddrey said. “We have an obligation to make sure the community knows what’s going on.”
In most cases, thieves took electronics like iPhones and Apple Max headphones, and worked in the evening, officials said. The NYPD would not say how many more officers it will deploy. Officials also would not share details about the increased camera surveillance.
Overall robberies are up nearly 4% this year across the city, according to NYPD data.