Uptick In Queens Van Thefts Causes Crime Rate To Rise: Police

FLUSHING, QUEENS — Due to a recent uptick in grand larceny of autos in Whitestone, College Point, Flushing and Bayside, there were 32 more reported crimes in the 109th Precinct in the 28-day period prior to March 5, when compared to the same dates in 2016.

The crime report issued by the 109th Precinct on March 5 showed 21 counts of car thefts in the 28-day period prior to the report, up from from nine in the same period of 2016 - a 133 percent increase.

The series of Ford Econoline thefts has mostly accounted for the increase in car thefts - eight Ford Econolines were reported stolen in the time period that the report covered.

“Now, we’ve got some automobiles that are being taken. We’re seeing a lot of Ford Econoline vans," said Judith Harrison, commanding officer of the 109th Precinct, according to QNS.

QNS also reported that there was a similar trend before Harrison became commanding officer. Some of the Ford Econolines that were stolen during that period were later discovered in Queens South, being used as dollar vans - a privately-owned transportation method that serves areas under-served by public transportation.

In order to raise awareness about the theft of Econolines, 109th Precinct officers passed out flyers last Monday. They are also advising van owners to make sure to park their cars in well-lit areas, lock their doors and activate their vans' alarms.

We are seeing an uptick in thefts of Ford Econoline Vans. Please park in well lit areas, lock doors, take all belongings & activate alarms pic.twitter.com/m3w7LcMYCF
— NYPD 109th Precinct (@NYPD109Pct) March" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/NYPD109Pct... 5, 2017

Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images