By: Ilana Siyance
Auto theft in New York City has jumped close to 70 percent this year. As reported by the NY Post, things have gotten so bad that some police are advising jittery residents to get The Club–an ’80s throwback security device to lock steering wheels while parked.
Car theft in the city has increased a troublesome 106 percent just on Thanksgiving week alone, as per NYPD data reviewed by the Post. Between Nov. 23 and Nov. 29, 186 cars were stolen, in comparison to 90 cars for the same time frame last year, the data shows. In 2020 so far, 8,217 cars were illegally taken compared to 4,919 in 2019, which is already a 67 percent increase.
Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant who now teaches at Manhattan’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said the pandemic together with bail reform have created a dangerous combination for urban auto owners. Bail reform “has been a friend to many criminals,” he said, noting that NYS bail reform has released countless non-violent offenders back out on the streets. Since mid-March, people have been home from work and school for months due to the pandemic, their cars were left “unattended for days, if not weeks on end,” he said. This has created an opening for criminals, who are many times opportunists. The thieves can steal cars knowing the incident won’t be reported or many times even be noticed until they are long gone.
Moreover, victims of car theft have little hope of reclaiming their vehicles. Nationwide, the rate of arrest for auto theft is merely 13.8 percent, or lower than any of the other major felonies, as per Giacalone. “Chasing stolen vehicles in New York City is frowned upon — and the car thieves know this better than anyone else,” he said.
Many car owners in the city have been opting to pay expensive fees to park in lots instead of on the street, hoping that their cars will be more secure. Another option, back from the 80’s is the Club. The classic $39.99 steering wheel lock has seen a resurgence, and business is booming confirmed Mark Macey, The Club’s national sales manager. “Sales are up,” he said without specifying the details. “You can attribute that to the pandemic and also the rioting, looting, protesting, whatever you want to call it.”
