You are reading

Thieves Targeting Motorcycles, Leads To Spike In Auto Crime

motorcyles-ticketed-250x2501

File Photo

May 25, 2016 By Michael Florio

Auto theft is up sharply in Astoria due to a slew of stolen motorcycles, according to the 114 precinct.

There have been 19 Grand Larceny Auto incidents in the current 28-period, which ends on May 22, compared to 10 during this same period last year. That is an increase of 90 percent.

The majority of these stolen vehicles have been motorcycles, Special Operation Lieutenant Nicholas Morales of the 114th Precinct said at a community meeting Tuesday night.

“It is motorcycle season,” he said.

This issue has plagued the precinct north of Astoria Boulevard, in upper Ditmars, according to Morales.

The thieves will often drive around scouting the neighborhood. After spotting a motorcycle they will return in the middle of the night, quickly throw it in a van and take off, Morales said.

“It can take just two men and only 30 seconds,” he noted.

“Garages and spaces are expensive, but they are worth it,” Morales added.

email the author: [email protected]

3 Comments

Click for Comments 

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Manhattan bouncer charged in New Year’s Day fatal stabbing in Elmhurst: NYPD

A Manhattan man was arrested on Saturday and charged in the fatal stabbing of an East Elmhurst man during the early morning hours of New Year’s Day in what notably became the city’s first homicide of 2024.

Torrence Holmes, 35, of St. Nicholas Place in Hamilton Heights, was taken into custody at his home and transported back to Queens, where he was booked at the 110th Precinct in Elmhurst on manslaughter and other charges on Saturday afternoon.

After surge of traffic violence, Queens leaders demand safer streets especially for children

Following a tragic week on Queens streets where three pedestrians — 43-year-old Natalia Garcia-Valencia, 58-year-old Elisa Bellere and 8-year-old Bayrron Palomino Arroyo — were fatally struck by unsafe drivers, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards announced that he has allocated $1.5 million in capital funding for street safety improvements on three of the borough’s most dangerous roadways.

Richards made the announcement at 82nd Street and Astoria Boulevard in East Elmhurst on Monday morning, about a mile from where the 8-year-old boy was struck and killed by an impatient pickup truck driver from Flushing on Mar. 13 as he walked in the crosswalk at 31st Avenue and 101st Street with him mother and brother, who was injured.