Burglaries in New York City Soar by 400% Amid Coronavirus
Some retail stores have resorted to boarding up their windows
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New York Police Department has reported a 75% spike in commercial burglaries as the coronavirus crisis continues to ravage the city.
Police recorded two hundred and fifty-four burglaries of commercial business between March 12-31.
The number is up from 145 from the same period last year.
Burglaries of only bodegas and supermarkets have increased by 400% during the same period when compared to the year before.
NYPD Chief of Crime Control Strategies Michael LiPetri said:
“We knew with the closing of many stores that we could see an increase, and, unfortunately, we are."
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LiPetri said thieves are taking money, electronics, alcohol, and food during the heists.
Some retail stores have resorted to boarding up their windows to prevent break-ins, including makeup chain Sephora.
“Our goal is to ensure a great experience for our clients when we have the opportunity to reopen,” the company said in a statement.
As burglaries increase, significant crimes, including rape and murder, have fallen nearly 20% since the coronavirus outbreak, the Wall Street Journal noted.
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The city faces more than 63,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and over 1,900 deaths, according to city data released this weekend.
NewsThud reported last month the NYPD said the coronavirus had infected nearly 700 members of the department.
New York is now at the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., as the City announced nearly 15,000 confirmed cases.
"It's a trend as you talk about what we've seen and what we're trying to do with social distancing, and lowering the curve," the police commissioner said.
"What we're seeing internally as an agency on the frontlines is we are still on an upward climb," he added.
