A spate of robberies at the southern end of New York City’s Central Park have been blamed on immigrants as young as 11 living in a city-run shelter, forcing the NYPD to step up patrols in the popular park.
About 10 robberies in the park or along its southern edge were believed to have been perpetrated by groups of up to 12 immigrant boys or young men, the New York Police Department said at a press conference in front of the green on Wednesday. Police officials said they would deploy dozens of officers to the popular tourist spot to combat the surge in immigrants.
“At this point, we can say with certainty that this is a pattern of robberies committed by immigrants,” NYPD Sergeant John Chell told reporters in front of the park at Seventh Avenue and West 59th Street.
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New York Police Sergeant John Chell said at a press conference on Wednesday that immigration is behind the rise in crime. (NYPD, via X)
“We believe they bear most, if not all, of the responsibility.”
The southern end of Central Park stretches from Columbus Circle in the southwest of the park to the area around the Plaza Hotel and Grand Army Plaza on the southeast side, and is always bustling with tourists.
According to NYPD data, crime in Central Park has increased dramatically this year compared to this time last year, with robberies up 200%, assaults up about 43%, and serious crimes up 46%.
Chell blamed the recent robberies as part of a pattern carried out by immigrant groups, who he said operate in groups of eight or 12 or in pairs.
“We have approximately 10 robberies that fit this pattern, most of which occurred in or near the park, and we believe they are responsible for most, if not all, of them,” he said.
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The two suspected migrants were arrested near the Roosevelt Hotel migrant shelter in Midtown Manhattan. Asylum seekers are pictured in front of the hotel, which has been converted into a city-run shelter for newly arrived migrant families in New York City. (Selcuk Akar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
The NYPD has announced that it will deploy 40 additional officers to patrol Central Park from 7pm to 11pm each day.
Drones will also be deployed to the park later this month to assist police, said NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Public Affairs Tarik Shepherd.
“We will not tolerate crime occurring in one of the most iconic places in the world… If you’re a bad guy, you should be watching over our shoulders so we know we’re not playing games,” Shepherd said.
“We’re going to reduce these crimes and keep Central Park safe.”
ABC reports that half of the suspects arrested on robbery charges on the south end of Central Park so far this year are immigrants.
The news follows the arrest of an 11-year-old Venezuelan boy on Tuesday after police captured him on camera using a stolen credit card on the south end of Central Park, Chell said.
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A view of Cherry Hill Fountain and the San Remo Building tower in Central Park in New York City. (Mehul Patel/Alamy Stock Photo)
The boy and a 17-year-old boy were taken into custody hours after they allegedly attacked a passenger on a Manhattan-bound No. 7 train in Queens around 8:40 p.m. New York Post I will report.
The Post cited sources as saying the two suspects were carrying the stolen cellphones when they were arrested near a migrant shelter at the Roosevelt Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, and that the victim told the Post that an 11-year-old boy was the “main assailant.”
ABC7 reports that at least 30 robberies have been reported at the park this year, compared to just 10 during the same period in 2023. There have also been 10 felony assaults this year, well up from just seven last year.
