Car theft continues to decline in the Bronx, but the crime still remains prevalent in certain neighborhoods.
Last Tuesday, State Senator Jeff Klein announced a $100,000 grant for an anti-auto theft program.
The program will be run by the Bronx District Attorney.
According to the NYPD’s CompStat tool, there were more than 1,700 grand larceny auto crimes within the 50th precinct in 1993.
That number dropped to less than 1,000 in 1998, three years after Senator Klein helped launch the anti-auto theft program that used "bait" cars to catch criminals. There were only 78 of those crimes in the 50th precinct last year.
The Bronx DA Darcel Clark says, last year a team of detective’s recovered 105 stolen vehicles worth $1.5M.
This new grant will allow for two more bait cars and a surveillance van to protect car owners.