Dinowitz joins fight against car break-ins

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz has outlined steps to address a recent string of car break-ins along Henry Hudson Parkway West.

At a Nov. 13 meeting with a committee of concerned residents at his office on Kingsbridge Avenue, the northwest Bronx elected official said he would explore whether lighting near the scene of the crimes can be improved and ask the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) if it can prune trees along Henry Hudson Parkway, among other measures.

The session followed months of what residents of Briar Oaks, a co-op with buildings at 4525 and 4555 Henry Hudson Parkway, described as rampant car vandalism and auto theft. In one week alone earlier this fall, windows of five cars were smashed in, according to residents. They also recounted instances where up to six vehicles were vandalized in a single night.

Grand larceny auto and car vandalism crime stats are not available for any one part of the 50th Precinct. However, recent crime figures show that from this year to date up until Nov. 9, there have been 367 grand larceny auto crimes total, four more than the year before. 

Mr. Dinowitz said his first step to help end the streak will be determining exactly where Briar Oaks ends and city property begins. He explained that would inform residents what measures they can take on their own and what the city can do to help. 

The assemblyman also plans to contact the Department of Transportation to ask if it can improve street lighting nearby.

“It makes it safer and it also makes it less appealing for potential vandals,” Mr. Dinowitz said in a phone interview after the meeting, which was closed to the press.

The assemblyman added that while some residents called for NYPD security cameras in their neighborhood, that kind of police surveillance is usually reserved for religious institutions, embassies and communities with frequent major crimes.

“I did suggest to them that they certainly can install cameras on their own property,” Mr. Dinowitz said.

He also plans to contact DPR about pruning trees along service roads where the crimes took place. Mr. Dinowitz observed there is an overgrowth of weeds and leaves in the area.