NYPD: Migrants, including minors, are responsible for increase in crime in Central Park

The New York Police Department (NYPD) says that A gang made up of migrants, including minors, is behind a rise in crime in the city's Central Park.

Authorities say there have been several isolated incidents and say they will deploy additional officers to combat the problem. Specifically, 40 additional officers will patrol Central Park between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.

“We will not tolerate crime in one of the most iconic places in the world,” said Tarik Sheppard, deputy NYPD information officer, Fox 5 New York reported.

New York police described a “larger pattern of robberies by young migrants in Central Park” and said one of those arrested was just 11 years old. The minor was caught on surveillance video using the credit cards of one of the victims. According to Fox 5 New York, a group of up to twelve people, all of them minors or young men, is behind the increase in such crimes.

According to ABC 7, it is believed that at least some of them are living in shelters in the city and are carrying out the raids with the violence of a “wolf pack.”

The city's crime statistics show a 46% year-over-year increase in serious crimes in Central Park in 2024. The number of robberies increased by 200%. “There are no secrets here, crime in this park has increased this year. Robberies in particular are commonplace here,” said John Chell, patrol chief of the NYDP.

“At this point, we're ready to call it out. It's a pattern of robberies by migrants,” added Chell, who said most of the incidents occur in the southern part of the park. Half of those arrested in this area are migrants.

Police are urging anyone who can identify suspects to contact police. Officers are also preparing to deploy drones in Central Park by the end of the month. Their goal is to enable responses in less than a minute and track suspects until police arrive on the scene.