New Crime Trend? Cement Blocks Replaced By Milk Cartons

Photo via El Blog De Joy

As we recently noted, current stats from the 114th Precinct show that robbery is up 10% from last year, burglary is up 7% and grand larceny auto is up 18.9%. Sightings of cars on cement blocks have become more frequent, and now it looks like things are getting really bad over in Astoria. A local blogger just spotted this car stripped of its tires and propped up by a plastic milk crate! The scenario was spotted just a few feet away from Peter F. Vallone’s house; we've contacted the Councilman for a comment on the recent crime wave in his neighborhood, and will update when/if we hear back.

UPDATE (11/19): Vallone tells us, "Queens not only has the highest number of car thefts, but we are now seeing cars on boxes—a stark example of what New York City used to look like when crime really was a problem. Criminals are sending us a brazen message, and we need to send one back with more cops on the streets. I’ve long fought for more police patrolling our streets, and this is why."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on November 18, 2010 1:43 PM

Comments [rss]

Potty Boy

Anyone remember the "no money; no radio" signs? I had a Chevy and had to put up a sign that said "no computer".

armundo

I saw a car in that same neighborhood that had its entire dashboard stolen. Why settle for a radio when you can have the whole interior?

exnyer

They usually only steal what the "Midnight Auto Boys" need to fill an order the next day.

Cannibal

I mean, who wants to drag around cement blocks? And its so hard to find ones just the right size, and right where you need them!

SP's Ghost

awesome. just like the good old days.

Dan

I saw a Civic up on milk crates in Hoboken years ago.

Kojak

Whoops.

This is why I don't pay extra for rims. That shit will get jacked easily.

jaycjay

Here's hoping that they were still working on it when that crate collapsed, and one of them got a crushed foot or something.

exnyer

Crushed foot? I`m hoping one of them was trying to steal the catalytic converters and is still underneath.

robingee

A car outside my old apartment in Westchester was stripped off all tires and they had plastic milk crates under each wheel. It's really not enough to hold up a 2-ton car though.

(OH BIG DEAL WESTCHESTER WAS DOIN THIS 4 YEARS AGO! THIS IS NEWSZZ??)