The 104th Precinct is actively confiscating illegally operated motorbikes and ensuring that storage options remain open for future potential seizures. On Sunday, July 16, the precinct transferred 25 confiscated motorbikes to the NYPD auto pound located in Brooklyn.
These illegal, unregistered motorbikes confiscated from the streets by your 104 cops over the last few weeks were removed from the station for further processing and, possibly, ultimate destruction. pic.twitter.com/Ww6R4lgmrH
— NYPD 104th Precinct (@NYPD104Pct) July 16, 2023
When QNS last spoke with Deputy Inspector Kevin Coleman, commanding officer of the 104th Precinct, officers had confiscated 162 bikes since the start of the year. He also mentioned how sharing images of recently confiscated vehicles helps show the work of the 104 Precinct.
“We have a lot of quality life issues here as does pretty much every precinct, but when I’m at a community meeting whether it’s my own precinct community council meeting, or I’m going to one of the civic meetings or whatever it is, really what people want to know is what’s going on,” Coleman said.
Later in the week, on Friday, July 21, the precinct’s Neighborhood Coordination Officers together with the traffic task force and the Department of Motor Vehicles conducted business inspections on three known motorbike shops in the confines of the precinct.
To further combat the vast amount of illegal motorbikes on our streets, your 104 Neighborhood Coordination Team, along with the DMV and our Traffic Taskforce conducted business inspections of local motorized scooter retailers to ensure they are in compliance with the law. pic.twitter.com/xTPHPZHg0y
— NYPD 104th Precinct (@NYPD104Pct) July 21, 2023
Motorbikes must be registered with the DMV and receive a 17-digit plate number unique to each vehicle — one key factor that dictates whether a business and buyers are in possession of motorbikes legally.
“We’re going around and inspecting that and I have to say, the bike shops are improving. Last year, we did a couple and we confiscated a ton of bikes because they were illegal, and then every time you do that, It’s like a $1,000 fine,” Coleman said. “This year, it’s better. We’ve actually done our second one this year. And they’re much better in compliance.”
More illegal, unregistered motorbikes confiscated over the weekend by your 104 cops after their riders were observed driving the vehicles recklessly throughout the precinct. pic.twitter.com/PVKed7Jsez
— NYPD 104th Precinct (@NYPD104Pct) July 24, 2023
The issues surrounding motorized vehicles, including mopeds, dirt bikes, ATVs and other modified scooters are due to public safety concerns. In multiple incidents across the city, motorbikes were used by criminals as a means to act out robberies or shootings.
🚨WANTED for ROBBERY🚨
The pictured subject is wanted for multiple Shoplifting Robberies inside the Children's Place clothing store, at 57-37 Myrtle Ave. Pictured subject did threaten to stab employees if they interfered. No knife was displayed.Have info? Call 1-800-587-TIPS pic.twitter.com/QUyiq4YHPf
— NYPD 104th Precinct (@NYPD104Pct) July 17, 2023
One bandit using a motorbike to commit his crimes is still at large, police said. Multiple robberies at The Children’s Place, at 57-37 Myrtle Ave. in Ridgewood, were committed by the same man who then flees the scene on a motorbikes. The crook takes piles of clothing at a time and last stole over $7,337 worth of merchandise on Monday, June 26. Police are still searching for the suspect.
Regarding crime overall, Deputy Inspector Coleman says crime is trending down for the 104th Precinct. At the beginning of the year, overall crime for the precincts neighborhoods of Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village and Ridgewood was up by 12% compared to last year. Now, the precinct is up only 1% overall.
NYPD crime stats overall depicted a downward trend when compared to last year and similarly to what top brass said for crime in the month of June, Coleman says, “we’re headed in the right direction.”
