SOHO — Increased police presence in SoHo is part of a "grand larceny initiative" to combat a spike in thefts in the ritzy retail neighborhood, police said.
Residents noticed a police command truck parked at Prince and Greene streets, as well as a significant increase in officers.
"Officers have been posted all along Greene and Spring [streets] for about a week," resident Susan Wittenberg said.
Wittenberg and others said they were told the target is "high-end shoplifting" and referenced the fact that "there were two women robbed at gunpoint recently."
Police said the truck is expected to stay at that location "indefinitely" and confirmed that an additional 24 police officers, as well as three sergeants and one lieutenant, are stationed at various spots around the neighborhood.
They include some grand larceny "hotspots" such as the Ralph Lauren store, the Apple store and along Broadway in general.
The additional officers will be at those locations "indefinitely" as well, police said.
Police attribute the spike in pricey retail crimes this year compared to last in part to the warmer winter weather.
But officers have also noticed more incidents of groups working together to rob stores, as opposed to just one individual.
In the past few months, a trio of men was arrested and charged with stealing $2,000 worth of moisturizer and makeup from the SoHo Duane Reade, and three women and a man made off with $5,000 in underwear and bras from Victoria's Secret.
Police at the time said the lingerie store had become a regular target for shoplifters.
