19. April 2020 – 8:13 Clock
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By Daniela Hoffmann, RTL reporter in New York
New York City, the city that actually never sleeps, has been slumbering for weeks. Due to the Corona crisis, the city is deserted, most shops are closed. Many luxury brands have barricaded their sales rooms for fear of looting. Of those who have millions in their accounts, more and more rely on a private security service – who also take up arms in an emergency. More on this in our video.
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Corona exit restrictions in New York extended until mid-May
Governor Andrew Cuomo has just decided that the exit restrictions will be extended until May 15th. This also means that people should continue to stay at home as much as possible and “non-essential” shops in New York remain closed.
Many of the eight million inhabitants are already unemployed or will become unemployed in the next few weeks. Without money for the high rents or food, despair increases – and with it the risk of unrest, break-ins and robberies. This is a horror scenario for the city’s millionaires. They are therefore increasingly engaging private security services.
Mike Ciravolo, President of the security company Beau Dietl & Associates, can hardly save himself from phone calls: “This one percent, the top ten thousand, fear becoming victims and an easy target for desperate people.”
Hundreds of inmates have been released
Burglaries into commercial properties have increased by 75% since March, and about 7,000 police officers have called in sick. And there’s another reason so many New Yorkers are scared. Mike Ciravolo, an ex-cop from the New York Police Department (NYPD), explains in an interview with RTL: “You have released prisoners from the New York Department of Justice, the prison on Rikers Island and some other facilities. Inmates who are diabetic or have other pre-existing conditions. They are letting them out now, even though some are charged with fairly serious crimes and awaiting trial. But to reduce the prison population, they are letting some of these dangerous people out on the streets. “
Because many inmates, but also guards, have already been infected with the corona virus in US prisons. This measure is intended to reduce the risk of further infections. But the release of potentially violent people is met with criticism: “Nobody wants a prisoner to get sick, but if they are dangerous for society, the public is also endangered,” says Michael Ciravolo. Its 450 employees are ex-police officers, former FBI agents, prison guards and firefighters. Many of them carry guns and would not hesitate to pull them out in an emergency.
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Security ensures tailor-made surveillance
His clients pay thousands of dollars for this expertise. Whether it is the town house on the Upper East Side that needs to be guarded or personal protection for the whole family: the guarding is tailored to each wealthy customer. “Every situation is different. Some security guards patrol in front of the building, some are sitting in the car. Some customers want a security guard to be right in the house. Some of our customers have fairly large living spaces and are most comfortable with security guards stationed in the house.” says security expert Michael Ciravolo.
The private security guards work around the clock. They keep an eye out for anyone who seems suspicious: whether the person is carrying a gun, is approaching the front door or pretending to have an appointment even though the customer is not expecting company. They also intercept deliveries to make sure the package is not an excuse to get inside.
Armed and prepared for any crisis situation, they do everything so that the city’s millionaires can sleep peacefully at night.
We and Corona
The coronavirus is currently shaking up all of our lives, every day anew. What should we do? What should we leave? How do we withstand all of this, and above all: How do we stick together? In this podcast we talk to doctors, politicians, psychologists, philosophers, but also to you, every evening. Here we keep you up to date on the most important things and offer specific tips for everyday life during this time.
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