Thieves Swipe All 4 Tires Near Gracie Mansion—And New Yorkers Barely Blink
You’d think stealing all four tires from a car parked near the mayor’s fancy digs would get people riled up. But this is New York. A white Honda CRV sat there on East 86th Street, propped up on milk crates like some kind of sad art installation. Even the wheel locks were gone—taken by thieves who clearly didn’t care about the neighborhood’s reputation. And the locals? Mostly just shrugged. That’s the thing about this city: after a while, even the weird stuff starts feeling normal.
So Here’s What Went Down
The Crime: Bold as Brass
Picture this: it’s Monday night turning into Tuesday morning on the Upper East Side. Quiet streets, fancy brownstones—the kind of place where you’d expect people to notice if someone started dismantling a car. But nope. Thieves had all the time in the world to jack up that Honda, take every single tire, and disappear into the night. And get this—they even swiped the anti-theft wheel locks. Talk about adding insult to injury.
Timing Is Everything
The cops got called early Tuesday when someone finally noticed the car sitting there like a turtle without its shell. But here’s the kicker—no arrests yet, and the NYPD’s being tight-lipped about whether they’ve got any leads. No surprise there. These days, unless it’s a high-profile case, these kinds of thefts tend to slip through the cracks.
Why Nobody’s Shocked Anymore
Neighbors React (Or Don’t)
I talked to a couple folks in the area. One guy—who didn’t want his name used—just said, “What, you new here?” with this tired smile. Another woman actually laughed and called it “Tuesday in the city.” That’s New York for you. After a while, you stop being surprised when crazy stuff happens right outside your door.
Is It Resilience or Just Exhaustion?
Let me put it this way: when your phone gets stolen for the third time, you don’t scream—you just sigh and start looking for deals on a new one. Same thing with car crimes these days. The numbers don’t lie—tire thefts and break-ins are way up across the borough. So maybe people aren’t so much tough as they are… worn down.
The Bigger Problem: NYC’s Car Crime Wave
Numbers Don’t Lie
NYPD stats show a 15% jump in this kind of theft over the past year. And it’s not just bad neighborhoods getting hit—even “nice” areas like this one are seeing more action. Thieves don’t care about zip codes when there’s easy money to be made.
What Are the Cops Doing?
Honestly? Not enough, according to most people I’ve talked to. Sure, there’s more patrols and those bait car operations. But it’s like putting a Band-Aid on a broken arm. By the time the police show up, your tires are already halfway to a chop shop.
How Not to Be the Next Victim
Simple Stuff That Actually Works
Park under streetlights. Get those crazy-looking wheel locks that need a special key. Maybe even one of those alarms that goes off if someone breathes on your car too hard. Basically, make your vehicle more trouble than it’s worth to steal.
If It Happens to You
First thing? Take pictures—lots of them. Then call the cops, even though you know nothing will probably come of it. After that, it’s insurance time. Pro tip: if you’ve got footage from nearby cameras, that might actually help your case.
Bottom Line
This isn’t just some funny crime story to tell at parties. It’s about how regular people deal with a city that keeps testing their limits. New Yorkers are tough, sure—but everyone’s got their breaking point. Maybe it’s time we all started looking out for each other a little more. And hey, maybe spring for those expensive wheel locks.
Helpful Links
Source: NY Post – US News
