The NYPD reported that crimes in New York City went up by 16.9% this January, compared to the same time last year. There were 8,437 crimes recorded in January 2020, compared to the 7,215 tallied in January 2019.
They discovered that there was an increase in burglary, assault and grand larceny cases. However, there was a decline in murders and hate crimes.
Recently, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea blamed the state’s new bail laws for the increase in crime numbers. The NYPD has said they have been employing precision policing, where they focus on a small number of potential offenders, including those from gangs. Likewise, the Youth Coordination Officers strategy has been in place to help young New Yorkers stay away from committing crimes.
Let’s dive deeper into the most common crimes in the city and where they are prevalent.
Robbery
The Manhattan South Precinct and the 40th Precinct recorded the most robbery cases in the city in 2019. The former had seven robberies per 1,000 residents while the latter had five robberies per 1,000 residents.
Manhattan South Precinct’s area of jurisdiction includes Times Square, Grand Central Terminal, Madison Square Garden and the Manhattan Mall Plaza – areas which are popular tourist spots. Meanwhile, the 40th Precinct serves neighborhoods like Port Morris, Mott Haven, and Melrose.
Burglary
The Manhattan South Precinct had the most burglary cases in 2019, with nine for every 1,000 residents. Other hotspots were the Manhattan North Precinct and the 81st precinct. The Manhattan North Precinct reported three burglary cases for every 1000 residents. The 81st precinct had three cases per 1000 residents. The North Precinct has jurisdiction over the Diamond District, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Radio City Music Hall, and the Rockefeller Plaza. The 81st precinct serves Bedford Stuyvesant and Stuyvesant Heights.
Assaults
The Manhattan South Precinct had the most assault cases in 2019, recording 10 cases per 1,000 residents. Other assault hotspots were the 73rd and the 25th precincts. The 73rd precinct serves Brooklyn’s Brownsville and Ocean Hill areas. The 25th precinct serves large residential communities like East Harlem, Marcus Garvey Park and Harlem Art Park.
Grand larceny
The Manhattan South Precinct recorded most cases among the other precincts, tallying 96 grand larcenies per 1,000 residents. The 10th precinct had 16 larcenies while the 1st precinct had 15. New York’s 10th precinct serves Chelsea, Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen South and the Hudson Yards. Meanwhile, the 1st precinct is home to the World Trade Center, SOHO, Tribeca, and Wall Street.
Murder
In 2019, the 77th, 32nd and 42nd precincts were found as the city’s murder hotspots. The 77th precinct serves Brooklyn’s Crown Heights and Prospect Heights. The 32nd precinct serves the northeastern portion of Harlem. The 42nd precinct serves Claremont, Crotona Park East, and Crotona Park.
There were a total of 23 murder cases in January 2020, down from the 29 reported in January 2019. It should be noted, however, that the total number of murders in the city rose in the entirety of 2019, breaking a three-year trend. The NYPD recorded 318 murder cases in the city in 2019. This was up from the 289 cases recorded in 2018, and the 292 in 2017.
Here are just some of New York City’s hotspots for the most common crimes committed. If you or someone you know has been charged with a crime and seeking assistance from a criminal defense attorney, contact us today.
