Luxury stores along New York City’s Madison Avenue have seen an increase recently in police presence and private security.
A recent influx of crime has caused stores to go as far as locking their doors and dimming their lights during business hours, according to a report from the New York Post.
The New York Police Department’s 19th Precinct, which covers the Upper East Side’s Madison Avenue, reported a nearly 47% increase in burglaries since last year. There were already 470 reports of theft from the start of the year through April 24.
DC PUBLIC TRANSIT TO INCREASE POLICE PRESENCE AMID RISE IN CRIME
“The normal thing now today is to lock our doors on Madison Avenue,” Carolina Herrera sales associate Michelle Singh reported.
Chanel’s store on Madison Avenue is only taking appointments, while its companion store in SoHo is open to the public. A store representative would not confirm to the Washington Examiner if the new policy was due to crime or a COVID-19 precaution. Prada has also reportedly been locking its doors, but the store did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Robbery has increased across the city since last year by 48%, with 1,267 incidents of theft.
