Cops battle huge Chelsea larceny spike
BY GABE HERMAN
Grand larcenies have skyrocketed
50 percent from the previous
year in Chelsea, according
to the NYPD’s 10th Precinct.
Police offi cers met with local residents
on Oct. 8 to discuss issues that
included drug activity and quality of
life issues related to homelessness,
and said that the increases in grand
larcenies are, in part, due to nightlife
around 16th Street, where people often
stagger out drunk late at night.
“There’s people that want to take
advantage of that,” Neighborhood Coordination
Offi cer Samuel Baez-Veras
said.
Thieves will wait outside and pretend
to help people or hail a taxi for them
—meanwhile they’re going through
their pockets, the offi cers said.
“Try to be vigilant, and use a buddy
system,” Baez-Veras said.
There is also an ongoing problem
with package thefts from apartment
buildings and offi cers said they have
spoken with superintendents about
providing a secure area in lobbies, like
a cage or other space that needs key access.
“It will be a safer area than to just
leave them,” Baez-Veras said. People
were also told not to let any unknown
people into buildings, especially late at
night.
Bicycle and electric bike thefts have
also been a trend in the neighborhood
A police car has been stationed on Eighth Avenue and W. 20th Street to prevent drug activity in the area.
because people often lock their bikes
but leave the seat exposed, which can
be lifted off in a matter of seconds, offi
cers said.
The meeting also included a followup
discussion about drug dealing and
heavy drug use around Rainbow Station,
an adult entertainment store at
203 Eighth Ave. between West 20 and
21 Streets. Police have set up a fi xed
post there, with offi cers stationed in a
police car to ward off drug activity on
Eighth Avenue.
Some residents said that drug dealing
can still be seen, sometimes near
the cop car, and also that much of the
drug activity has simply moved off of
Eighth Avenue and to the nearby side
streets.
Acknowledging that drug activity
has continued away from Eighth Avenue,
Baez-Veras said, “now we have to
fi gure out how to fl ood the side streets
as well.”
Sgt. Ahmed Deeb said that he would
tell the offi cers stationed on Eighth Avenue
to get out of the car and patrol
the area, to prevent activity on nearby
streets as well.
Offi cer Baez-Veras assured community
members that the drug problem
wouldn’t be solved right away, but that
PHOTO BY GABE HERMAN
the precinct is working to fi x the issue,
including investigations and more foot
patrol.
Offi cers have also been doing homeless
outreach with Goddard Services,
which offers food and shelter — though
nine out of 10 homeless people decline
the offer, Baez Veras said.
Police have also been issuing summonses
for homeless people seen breaking
the law — for urination, defecation
or littering in public usually along
Eighth Avenue from West 18 to West
21 Streets — but they said a summons
can’t always be issued. Instead the
homeless are offered help and services.
Arsonist tried to torch Masonic Hall in Chelsea
BY GABE HERMAN
Cops are still looking for the fi rebug
who tried to torch the Masonic
Hall in Chelsea on Tuesday
night.
Around 11:45 p.m. on Oct. 8, in
front of the building at 46 West 24 St.,
at Sixth Avenue, police said that a man
threw an “incendiary device” at the unoccupied
building, causing a fi re.
The fi re was quickly extinguished
and there were no injuries reported, according
to police..
An offi cial familiar with the investigation
said there is no known motive
for the arson attack.
There was no description available
of the suspect, but police did provide
surveillance images of the man wanted
for arson.
Anyone with information about the
suspect’s identity can call Crime Stoppers
at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial
888-57-PISTA), visit the Crime Stoppers
website, nypdcrimestoppers.com,
or send a direct message on Twitter @
NYPDTips. All calls and messages are
kept confi dential.
COURTESY NYPD
Police are looking for this man in relation to an arson in Chelsea.
4 October 17, 2019 Schneps Media
/nypdcrimestoppers.com
