Burglaries Down, Prostitution Up

While burglaries are down in West Midtown, sex workers have become more visible in the morning in Hell’s Kitchen, according to NYPD statistics and eyewitness testimony from community members presented at the Community Affairs meeting of the Midtown North Precinct on September 15th.

Two factors account for the sudden increase in visibility: First, the police night shift that monitors much of this activity changes around 5am. Sex workers, clearly cognizant of police patrols, have adjusted their working hours accordingly. Second, there is an increase in high-rise construction developments in the vicinity and sex workers view construction workers as a perfect pool for clientele.

So what can be done? The Midtown North Precinct has organized a special task force to target sex crimes and will be altering patrol hours. If you notice nefarious activity, contact the West 55th Street Block Association (west55ba[AT]gmail[DOT]com), call 311 or attend a Midtown North Precinct Community Affairs meeting every third Tuesday of the month at 7:30 PM at the Fountain House, 425 W 47th Street. –Carl Bevelhymer