NYPD officers have been making headlines recently for their efforts to rid New York City’s streets of illegal mopeds. Law enforcement officials have reported a significant uptick in crimes committed using unregistered two-wheelers over the past few years. In a recent operation, an unknown brave NYPD officer tried to apprehend an 18-year-old moped driver but was dragged along the street.

Not on our watch!

Addressing lawlessness and community quality of life concerns, Times Square Public Safety, MidtownSouth and Midtown North precincts conducted a joint Moped Operation. 39 mopeds/motorcycles were seized, 40 summonses issued and one individual was placed under… pic.twitter.com/9iQNZXvJgG

— NYPD Deputy Commissioner, Operations Kaz Daughtry (@NYPDDaughtry) June 7, 2024

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The officer sustained bruises and abrasions from the ordeal, but he refused to let go of the driver and eventually arrested him. The driver was later charged with reckless endangerment and resisting arrest. The operation, conducted jointly by Times Square Public Safety, MidtownSouth, and Midtown North precincts, seized 39 mopeds/motorcycles while issuing 40 summonses. Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry shared photos of the successful operation.

Mayor Eric Adams and Commissioner Edward A. Caban have also joined the fight against illegal vehicles in NYC. Adams has uploaded a video of two bulldozers crushing illegal bikes seized by the NYPD. The mayor aims to tackle the exponential increase in criminals using illegal, unregistered motorized scooters, bikes, or other vehicles to snatch property from New Yorkers.

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Gary K. Wiepert wrote for American Thinker in April that “Illegal Mopeds are the newest victims of criminal dysfunction in NYC.” The article cites a city representative, who stated that “there have 224 robberies on e-bikes during the first 65 days of the year — compared with 383 for all of 2020; several of them have turned violent; more than 20% of stolen property was phones.”

The recent uptick in scooter thefts and felony assaults is leaving residents on edge, with an increase of 79 robberies using illegal scooters and mopeds in the first five months of 2024. The NYPD reports that the increase in crimes is largely due to offenders fleeing crime scenes on these illegal vehicles. The NYPD has seized more than 41,000 illegal vehicles this past year alone. In an operation on a Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua member, officers underwent a violent altercation with the moped rider, who opened fire on police with an unlicensed gun. Reports suggest the juvenile is part of “an invading criminal army.” Law enforcement sources say members of the gang use mopeds to steal cell phones.

Illegal and dangerous vehicles, like mopeds and scooters, have been terrorizing our people for far too long.

That was until our administration stepped in and made public safety a priority, taking more than 41,000 of these nuisance vehicles off our streets. pic.twitter.com/7fIkqlcCDI

— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) June 7, 2024

The NYPD’s efforts to crack down on moped and scooter-related crime are being brought to the forefront of New Yorkers’ attention. Despite the dangerous tactics employed by criminals on mopeds, officers are unwavering in their pursuit to maintain law and order in the city.

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