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Car Thefts on the Rise Uptown, NYPD Data Shows

By Lindsay Armstrong | August 21, 2015 4:21pm | Updated on August 24, 2015 8:59am
 Auto thefts are up in the 34th Precinct, according to NYPD data.
Auto thefts are up in the 34th Precinct, according to NYPD data.
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Anton K. Nilsson/DNAinfo

INWOOD — Northern Manhattan has seen a spike in car thefts over the past month, according to NYPD data.

From July 20 through Aug. 16, the number of stolen cars in the 34th Precinct increased by more than 120 percent — from nine to 20 — compared the same period last year.

Deputy Inspector Chris Morello acknowledged the spike in a post on the precinct’s Facebook page.

“Over the last week, the 34th Pct has seen an increase in thefts of cars and motorcycles,” he wrote. “But the cops in the Heights are up to the task.”

Morello went on to highlight three arrests for stolen vehicles, including that of a woman who stole a van that was left running on Dyckman Street around 6 a.m. on Aug. 11.

According to police, arrests for grand larceny auto cases have also gone up during this time period, with four this year compared to one for the same time last year.

The amount of total car thefts this year has remained flat overall, with 53 through Aug. 16 compared to 52 through the same date last year.

The jump in auto thefts has also led to an increase in major crimes in Inwood and upper Washington Heights over the past month.

From July 20 to Aug. 16, there were 120 major crimes in the 34th precinct, compared to just 96 for the same time last year.

The other crime category that saw a notable increase in the past month was robbery, which was up by 35 percent. There were 19 robberies during this time period, compared to 14 for the same time last year.

Felony assaults, burglaries and grand larcenies also saw small increases.