Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Erie County Sheriff John Garcia published an op-ed piece to The Buffalo News on Sunday, where he spoke to a rising rate in Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle (UUMV) calls happening this year.
Garcia writes since the beginning of this year in Grand Island alone, his deputies have responded to six reports of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle.
"That number represents six individuals who felt, and still feel, violated. It represents six individuals who no longer feel safe. This also puts us on pace for about 50 UUMV calls in Grand Island this year. There were 18 in 2022 and 16 in 2023," Garcia writes.
In addition, New York State Police reports to WGRZ that there have been recent cases where car thieves have been targeting large local gyms. Robbers, oftentimes young teenagers, will look through unlocked lockers for car keys and drive away in your vehicle.
Garcia believes that these continued reports in car thefts shines a bright light on the insufficiency of New York State's bail reform laws, which is why the sheriff is calling for backup from our state legislators.
"We increased patrols in Grand Island last year, in Clarence and Elma, we need help," the sheriff tells WBEN.
"We need help from our legislators, because not even the judges have the power to keep those that are a danger to our community. I mean, that is outrageous. And they're not able to keep in custody somebody who's in front of them that was in front of them a couple of days earlier. Common sense. This is not a political issue. This is a public safety issue."
Garcia and the Erie County Sheriffs Department are now working collaboratively with Sheriff Todd Baxter of Monroe County, who has lead the charge on the initiative "Consortium for Safe Communities."
"It is getting together with people that are crime victims, public safety professionals, clergy, business people, attorneys and the medical community to bring common sense legislation to Albany, because right now what happens is the power comes from New York City. And nobody wants to be living in a community like what is occurring right now in New York City. We do not want that in Erie County. We just want common sense."
This consortium, who have successfully advocated for removal of the “Least Restrictive Means” standard for bail in 2023, are now calling for an additional “Risk of Public Safety” standard and a “Repeat Offender” standard.
"How could you not allow a judge to keep somebody who's dangerous? We're the only state in the nation that has that. Even the federal government has standards for keeping people that are a danger to the community and custody," said Garcia.
Garcia reminds the public to lock your vehicles and keep your keys with you.
"We need to come back to somewhere where common sense dictates what the law should be."