There goes the neighborhood.
Upper East Side residents were mostly unfazed as a car left stripped of all four tires was left balancing on milk crates in the usually lowkey neighborhood near Gracie Mansion.
A white Honda CRV had its tires — and wheel locks — swiped overnight into Tuesday on East 86th Street near York Avenue in front of a doorman building and just a couple of blocks from the mayor’s residence.
“It’s a typical day around here,” elevator mechanic Kim Harris, 44, told The Post. “They pull up right next to your car… it’s like an express tire shop that you didn’t ask for.”
The CRV owner’s boyfriend, Ephraim Heirschberg, called the pre-dawn raid stunning.
“I’m here 40 years in this building, and I’ve never seen anything like this before,” he said of the crime that had echoes of the city’s grittier “bad old days.”
“I think we live in a very safe area over here, the mayor’s here, the police department is here … this is the first time I’ve encountered anything like this in this neighborhood.”
The victim, who asked to be identified a Anna K., had a blunt reply when asked if she still felt safe in her neighborhood.
“No! I don’t feel safe anymore,” she said with a laugh as her car was being towed.
It’s unclear when the robbery took place, but building staff on the block said workers might’ve been too busy handling rain in their basements following Monday’s flash flood downpour.
Anna wasn’t the only motorist having a lousy day in the luxe Manhattan neighborhood.
Another vehicle was also de-wheeled overnight Tuesday, according to photos provided to The Post.
Numerous residents who live or work in the area said two other cars were also robbed of their tires recently.
“It’s a thing now, I guess, they’re targeting this area,” said Teresa A, who lives in the area. “And it usually never happens in this area.”
She added she’s seen a few posts on NextDoor and an Upper East Side Facebook page about other tire thefts.
A roadside assistance technician from MacArthur Towing, Jason Rivera, who was on hand to haul the white SUV away, said the thefts can be a quick pit stop.
“In and out, these guys that do this, give them 10 minutes and they’re out of there,” the 31-year-old said.
While robbery and burglary have dropped 11% and 13% in 2025 compared to the same time span last year, grand larceny and grand theft auto have increased modestly by 3.2% and 4.6%, respectively, according to NYPD data.
Petit larceny has jumped 6.8% compared to the same time span last year.
Jason K., who works in a nearby building, said he’s never seen a brazen theft like this in the neighborhood.
“I’ve only ever seen this in the Bronx,” he said.
“They were taking catalytic converters last year,” Kathleen O., 71, added. “They wouldn’t do it for fun, there’s profit to be made.”
Additional reporting by Amanda Woods
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