This year, there’s been a notable uptick in serious crimes on New York City’s subways and buses, particularly in various NYPD patrol districts, despite an overall 1% decrease in citywide crime. This trend has raised alarm among commuters.
Recent data from the NYPD shows a significant 32% rise in crime in the Bronx Northern Circuit, covering areas like Woodlawn, Kingsbridge, and Fordham. Meanwhile, Manhattan’s Northern Circuit, which includes the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, and Harlem, experienced a 25% increase.
Traffic-related crimes surged by 17% in the southern Bronx, from Mott Haven to Hunts Point, and 16% in southern Brooklyn areas like Coney Island, Crown Heights, and Park Slope. The Queens South Patrol District, which encompasses Jamaica and Ozone Park, reported a 3% increase in similar offenses.
Despite these localized increases, the crime rate has actually dropped 12% in lower Manhattan and 8% in northern Brooklyn. Overall statistics indicate a slight decrease in crime citywide this year.
Official reports confirm that there have been 1,085 crimes across the city so far, a small dip from 1,093 in the same timeframe last year. Specifically, violent assaults on public transport rose by 4%, increasing from 316 to 330 incidents, with robberies up 10%, from 197 to 216.
The city’s CompStat 2.0 website revealed that five precincts with heightened metro crime saw a combined 21% increase in traffic-related offenses, climbing from 351 to 428.
Police Chief Jessica Tisch acknowledged the rise in robberies and assaults at a news conference. She highlighted an increase in gun recoveries and arrests, mentioning that subway ridership is up 5% compared to last year.
“We are monitoring the rise in transport-related homicides, which is up two years in a row,” she noted. While the general crime trend is positive, she emphasized the importance of addressing the increases.
An increase in younger offenders, including some under 18, is driving the rise in robberies. So far, arrests for traffic robbery have increased by 10%, while felony assault arrests rose by 9% this year. The return of 39 firearms during transport is the highest recorded for the first half of the year, Tisch stated.
Commuters at the Bronx’s 161st Street Yankees Stadium subway station shared their awareness of the risks while taking precautions. One passenger, Melissa de la Rosa, expressed relief at seeing police presence but also concerns about the safety of riding with children.
Nicole Steiner, who recently moved from Florida, mentioned trying to avoid traveling alone at night. She recounted witnessing drug use on the subway, stressing the need for more police patrols.
In a troubling incident at the Fordham Road subway station, a 24-year-old man was slashed in the face while boarding a train. He described the severity of the injury, stating, “The bleeding was really bad.”
After the attack, he was treated at St. Barnabas Hospital, requiring several stitches and noting potential scarring. Reflecting on the attack, he expressed uncertainty about the motive, saying, “Honestly, I don’t know. Maybe he thought I was someone else.”
Many commuters voiced their fears about random acts of violence. Andrew Hughes, a 21-year-old from New Jersey, likened riding the subway to “rolling the dice” and emphasized the importance of vigilance and personal safety measures.
Brooklyn resident Melissa de la Rosa acknowledged the NYPD’s efforts but worries the situation might worsen as the summer heats up. One passenger felt reassured by the police presence but voiced concerns about the challenges warm weather might bring, especially with an influx of potentially disruptive individuals later in the evening.
