Data from the New York City Police Department indicates a notable uptick in robberies on public transit.
As of April 5, there have been 128 robberies on buses and trains, marking a 21% rise from 106 incidents during the same timeframe last year. Experts are concerned that this trend might continue to escalate.
While felony assaults decreased by 6% from 171 to 160, this figure excludes three violent incidents involving a machete-wielding assailant attacking unsuspecting commuters last Saturday. Notably, assaults overall have surged by 60% compared to pre-pandemic figures from 2019.
Transport-related homicides are also increasing, with the count rising from zero in 2025 to three so far this year.
Misdemeanor offenses climbed by 12%, up from 395 to 441, while another category of misdemeanors saw a 4% increase, going from 46 to 57.
Samantia Beckford, a Bronx resident, expressed her concern, stating that regardless of protective measures, they fall short. “Homelessness is a problem,” the 32-year-old remarked. “There’s more work to be done.”
Under former Mayor Eric Adams, the NYPD deployed an additional 200 officers to patrol transit in January 2025 to enhance safety. They particularly focused on the night shifts, ensuring two officers were present per train.
Crime rates did decline under this initiative; however, recent budget cuts under Mayor Mamdani’s administration have decreased these patrols.
Michael Alcazar, a former NYPD detective and John Jay College professor, voiced his concerns as summer approaches. “This shows that the police department is really short on uniformed officers,” he mentioned, adding that criminals are likely aware of this situation. “They can pretty much predict where the police are going to be,” he noted.
Last week, Police Chief Jessica Tisch highlighted a citywide crime reduction of 5.3% as of March 29, with a modest 1.3% drop in metro-related crime.
Ronald Stokes, a 55-year-old local police officer, argued for more undercover personnel in the subway system. “This is really bad because congestion tolls almost force people to take the subway,” he said. “Now they are forced to walk around with their heads spinning.”
The NYPD indicated that children are often behind subway robberies, noting that 34% of this year’s robberies have involved juveniles, with 63% resulting in arrests.
The spike in robberies during January and February was 54% higher compared to the same months in 2025. This coincided with severe weather that pushed more people into confined train spaces. Interestingly, a spokesperson confirmed that incidents declined in March.
Passengers are feeling unsettled, especially after a recent incident in the Bronx where a group assaulted three friends while stealing their electronics.
“Right now, train safety is not good,” stated NYCHA Assistant Superintendent Ronald Stokes, who emphasized the need for more visible presence of officers.
Claude Butler, a Charter Communications dispatcher from Harlem, shared his concerns about safety on the subway. “I had to come with my wife this morning because I don’t think it’s safe for her to ride alone,” he recounted, noting that men sometimes approach her when he’s not around.
He pointed out that police tend to be present mainly on the platforms. “You just see them at the station. You don’t see them on the train… They should be on the train,” he said.
Part of Mayor Mamdani’s platform was a reduction in the NYPD’s funding, which included disbanding the Strategic Response Group that typically handles protests and high-stakes situations instead of everyday transit policing.
Alcazar suggested that the subway system needs a heavy presence of officers as summer approaches. “I think there will be more robberies, especially in the subways, because there are more passengers and there are more bad guys,” he cautioned. “We need to be omnipresent.”
