Photograph of blooming cherry blossoms in Central Park this January by Carol Elk
When temperatures rise, it seems like crime does too. And with January being unusually warm, there was a 5.7% jump in major city crimes. DNAinfo reports, "The increase is led by double-digit jumps in robberies, burglaries and grand larceny, police statistics show. Murder and rape reports are also up from the same time last year. NYPD insiders say the only logical explanation is the unseasonably warm weather that has New Yorkers, criminals included, spending more time outdoors on snow-free streets. In early 2011, criminals had to contend with snowdrifts and blizzards."
More details: "NYPD figures through last Sunday show there were 9,902 serious crimes reported this year, compared to 9,366 for the same period last year. Murders and rape have risen 5.9 percent, from 34 to 36 and 135 to 143 respectively; robberies are up 10.8 percent, from 1,770 to 1,962; burglaries jumped 11.8 percent, from 1,631 to 1,824; and grand larcenies are up 10.3 percent, from 3,295 to 3,635, according to police figures obtained by DNAinfo." A police source said, "Everyone knows that bad weather is a cop’s best friend." Yeah, cops can't import snow.
The warm weather is supposed to come back on Friday.
