Central Park Has City's Worst Rise In Crime: 52.4 % In Felonies

A police van from the Central Park precinct drives on the East Drive this afternoon. The NYPD "flooded" Central Park with additional officers approximately three weeks ago in reaction to a spike in crime. As a result, the precinct doubled their man-power of officers available for patrol.  The park has seen a sharp decline in officers assigned to the 843 acres over the last decade according to city sources.  (Photo: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates)

Manhattan

Better pack pepper spray in the next picnic basket.

Central Park has seen the highest spike in crime of any area in the city -- surpassing even the roughest sections of Brooklyn for growth of robberies and thefts, according to the New York Post.

The storied green space has endured a 52.4 percent rise in felonies, compared to an increase of 15.54 percent in Coney Island's 60th Precinct and 12 percent in the 77th Precinct in Crown Heights, according to NYPD statistics released this week.

A total of 64 felonies were committed as of Aug. 2 in Central Park Precinct, compared to 42 in the same period last year.

Grand larceny in the park skyrocketed 90 percent, with 42 incidents compared to just 22 during the first seven months last year.

Robbery is up 23 percent, with 16 incidents compared to 13 last year.

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Central Park has New York's worst rise in crime

New York Post - August 6, 2010  - By Lorena Mongelli