In New York City, overall crime is down by 30%, but commercial burglaries are up 100% year-to-year. Police say criminals are targeting stores shuttered in the wake of the coronavirus, leading to a huge spike in commercial burglaries.
Among the many businesses burglarized was the New York landmark Ferrara’s Bakery in Manhattan’s Little Italy. Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said the NYPD will “rise up” during the coronavirus crisis. “We stand strong, on the front lines, to ensure a common good for all and to continue to relentlessly drive down crime, deliver justice for every crime victim and maintain a sense of safety we believe all New Yorkers deserve,” the commissioner added.
To deter thieves, many business owners are boarding up their storefronts as if they're expecting a hurricane.