New York City Achieves Record-Breaking Low Crime in 2018
January 3, 2019
1,207 Fewer Incidents in 2018 versus 2017 Marking the Lowest Number of Index Crimes, Robberies, Burglaries and Shootings in Modern Era.
The City of New York achieved record-setting reductions in several major crime categories in 2018, setting new records for public safety and crime reduction in the modern era. These achievements improve upon key reductions seen in 2017, continuing to drive the records even lower. In 2018, overall crime is lower than in 2017 and below a new benchmark of 96,000; murder was below 300 for the second year in a row, numbers not seen since the early 1950s; robberies were below 13,000, lower than in 2017, a new record low for the modern era; burglaries were below 12,000 and lower than in 2017; and shooting incidents were again below 800 and lower than in 2017.
"The skill and dedication of the men and women of the NYPD are keeping New York City the safest big city in America. With stronger bonds of trust with the community created with neighborhood policing, a singular focus on violent crimes and those who commit them, and ever stronger coordination with our law enforcement partners, we can continue to drive crime down even lower in 2019," said Police Commissioner James P. O'Neill.
"Our city is yet again the safest big city in America thanks to the work our NYPD officers and community leaders are doing block by block across our five boroughs," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "Neighborhood policing in New York City has defied the naysayers to become the model for 21st-century American law enforcement."
Key highlights from 2018's crime statistics include:
- Lowest number of index crimes in the modern era. There were 1,207 fewer incidents compared to 97,090 in 2017, or -1.2%;
- 295 homicdes, below 300 for the second year in a row;
- Robberies, burglaries, and grand larceny autos down when comparing 2018 versus 2017;
- Felony assaults and grand larcenies were up less than half of a percentage point when comparing 2017 to 2018;
- Shooting incidents were down 35 incidents, or 4.4%, when comparing 2017 to 2018
Statistics on Index Crimes 2017-2018
| Dec. 2018 | Dec. 2017 | Change | +/-% | Year-to-Date 2018 | Year-to-Date 2017 | Change | +/-% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murder | 17 | 28 | -11 | -39.3% | 295 | 292 | +3 | +1.0% |
| Rape | 132 | 135 | -3 | -2.2% | 1,794 | 1,467 | +327 | +22.3% |
| Robbery | 1,065 | 1,244 | -179 | -14.4% | 12,913 | 13,993 | -1,080 | -7.7% |
| Felony Assault |
1,626 | 1,527 | +99 | +6.5% | 20,208 | 20,163 | +45 | +0.2% |
| Burglary | 969 | 1,032 | -63 | -6.1% | 11,687 | 12,148 | -461 | -3.8% |
| Grand Larceny |
3,815 | 3,753 | +62 | +1.7% | 43,558 | 43,362 | +196 | 0.5% |
| G.L.A. | 396 | 459 | -63 | -13.7% | 5,428 | 5,665 | -237 | -4.2% |
| TOTAL | 8,020 | 8,178 | -158 | -1.9% | 95,883 | 97,090 | -1,207 | -1.2% |
Additional Statistics on Transit/Housing Crime and Shootings, 2017-2018
| Dec. 2018 | Dec. 2017 | Change | +/-% | Year-to-Date 2018 | Year-to-Date 2017 | Change | +/-% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transit | 270 | 217 | +53 | +24.4% | 2,568 | 2,474 | +95 | +3.8% |
| Housing | 387 | 386 | +1 | +0.3% | 4,653 | 4,874 | -221 | -4.5% |
| Shooting Incidents |
58 | 67 | -9 | -13.4% | 754 | 789 | -35 | -4.4% |
Note: All crime statistics are preliminary and subject to further analysis, revisions, or change.