For more proof that the cure for New York City’s crime problem is broken-windows policing, look no further than the capture of Victor Parra, the suspected co-ringleader of a migrant gang, who got nabbed last week after three months on the lam — not for a high-level offense, but for failing to wear a helmet.
Parra could have remained a free man on the run, had a diligent Bronx cop not stopped him.
As law enforcement bluntly told The Post: “Everyone wants to bastardize quality of life — lower-level enforcement — but that’s how you create a safe and orderly society.” Fact is, “Enforcing minor violations like helmet laws . . . helps bring in bigger fish.”
And Parra is one big fish: Along with co-leader Franco Alexander Peraza Navas, who got busted in February, the Venezuelan allegedly ran a crew of thieves on mopeds who robbed victims in the city, New Jersey, Yonkers and Florida, peddled the stolen goods and then shipped cash back to South America.
Progressives demonize the enforcing of offenses like farebeating, shoplifting or traffic violations as “criminalizing poverty.”
The NYPD’s collaring of Parra throws ice cold water on that argument.
In fact, farebeating busts snare career criminals all the time: Nearly half of turnstile-jumpers nabbed by the NYPD last year had active warrants, including one wanted for attempted murder.
And real consequences for “minor” crimes also teaches a lesson to first-time offenders, steering them right before they move on to more serious law-breaking.
Cleaning up New York City requires serious enforcement of low-level offenses.