Photo by David Greene
This week, we asked readers for their opinions on the rise in car thefts in The Bronx, along with an apparent rise in car tire theft and car break-ins. As of May 11, year-to-date Bronx auto theft statistics were up 8.1% (to 1,531), and for the 28-day period ending May 11, they were up 19.1% (to 386). The latest reported statistics, including auto theft, for the 52nd, 50th and 46th Precincts specifically are included further below.
“The problem is huge around here; it’s happening like never before; so many cars, almost every day. They break into the cars, they break the windows, or they are stealing the tires, just like what they did here last Thursday. What we need is for them to start pressing charges against these people; it should be a felony.”
Francisco Marte,
Norwood
Photo by David Greene
“I often see a lot of broken glass by the cars along Webster Avenue. I don’t know too much about cars, but I do know that they steal tires, and they steal the rims and the catalytic converters but lately, I have noticed a lot of broken windows and glass up and down the street. It happens in dead areas like Park Avenue; the damage is done.”
Charles Gibson,
Tremont resident visiting Kingsbridge
Photo by David Greene
“Personally, I haven’t seen it myself, but I’ve had family members and neighbors tell me about situations like that. I do believe it is an increasing problem, and I believe the only way for the NYPD to stop it is to be tougher on criminals. I would say no catch and release. I feel with a lot of catch and releases, you give dangerous people a chance to do more harm than good.”
Tariq Bawoud,
Pelham Parkway
Photo courtesy of John Shaffer
I see it all over Marine Park, cars up on cinder blocks or milk crates and all four wheels gone in seconds; it’s definitely a growing problem. As far as police, they need to do more night patrols. GPS doesn’t seem to be successful. Case in point; they just busted a car theft ring totaling $4 million in stolen cars. People would take orders and cops made purchases and finally broke it up.”
John Shaffer,
Brooklyn
Photo courtesy of Rev. Carmen Hernandez
“Yes, it’s happening a lot and the solution is that the 43rd Precinct needs to sit down with us, the community, and find a solution to these problems. The cops are not doing anything at the 43rd Precinct.”
Rev. Carmen Hernandez,
Soundview
Source: NYPD
For more coverage of this issue, click here.
As also reported, eight men, seven living in The Bronx, were charged last month with a $6.6 million-dollar, New Jersey car theft operation of luxury cars, including a Rolls Royce, a scam which involved storing the vehicles in The Bronx before shipping them to West Africa, New York and New Jersey officials announced Tuesday, April 29.
Major crime statistics, including auto theft, for the 46th Precinct for the 28-day period ending May 11, 2025 compared to last year (left), and year-to-date major crime statistics for the 46th Precinct as of May 11, 2025, compared to last year (right) are attached above. This precinct covers some or all of Fordham, University Heights, Morris Heights and Mt. Hope.
Source: NYPD
Major crime statistics, including auto theft, for the 50th Precinct for the 28-day period ending May 11, 2025, compared to last year (left), and year-to-date major crime statistics for the 50th Precinct as of May 11, 2025, compared to last year (right) are attached above. This precinct covers some or all of Kingsbridge, Fieldston, Riverdale, Marble Hill, and Spuyten Duyvil.
Major crime statistics, including auto theft, for the 52nd Precinct for the 28-day period ending May 11, 2025, compared to the same timeframe last year (left), and year-to-date major crime statistics for the 52nd Precinct as of May 11, 2025, compared to last year (right) are attached below. This precinct covers some or all of Bedford Park, Fordham, Kingsbridge, Norwood, Bronx Park, and University Heights.
Source: NYPD
Editor’s Note: We reached out to the NYPD press office for comment on the last remarks about the 43rd Precinct response. The latest year-to-date car theft statistics were down (161 from 162) as of May 11 for that precinct, which covers Westchester Avenue, Castle Hill Avenue, White Plains Road, and Parkchester.
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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.
It is true. We pay for protection to NYPD thru our taxes and yet they don’t do anything but drive around on their personal phones or stand at cross streets gossiping with one another or on phone will infractions are being done in front of them. I regret moving back to Bronx. Moved into a new building one of the first tenant, moved in 10/1 and 10/10 my catalyst converter was stolen. The following year around October again, my car was broken into and they stole my airbag with horn and all. Mind you I had a club on car. Airbag stolen without moving club. Now in October of this passing year, yet again my car was broken into and every item that had in trunk to help in any emergency with my vehicle, was stolen along with a book bag that held over night clothes. All three times I’ve had to replace windows and guess what, on top of having these items stolen my insurance went up an extra 100 due to these thief’s. And cops do nothing! Cameras on the street and they still do nothing. But yet we run a light or park doubled park for cleaning street, they quick to give you a ticket. Am so fed up with the Bronx. Looking to move out again. Keep you new buildings that are built with no parking space and you can’t find parking no where around you living area therefore putting your car at risk more.