New York City Sees Safest July on Record
August 2, 2018
New York, New York – July 2018 was the safest on record, marking a two percent decrease in the total number of index crimes reported from this same time last year. This achievement places the department on track to finish 2018 under a total of 100,000 index crimes, which would be only the second time the NYPD has reached this milestone in the CompStat-era.
“It’s our precise focus on the real drivers of crime that enables us to keep reducing the shootings and the murders,” Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill said. “But with these remarkable gains we’re making, even against already record-lows, it means that achieving further declines in crime and violence gets more difficult each year. So, everyone must participate. No one can retreat. Together – all 8.6 million New Yorkers, in every neighborhood – that’s how we’re making our way forward.”
“The bravest, most dedicated police force in the world never stops working to keep our City safe,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said. “And it’s the department’s winning formula of working with New Yorkers to stop crime in its tracks that’s made this July the safest in the City’s history. I have no doubt the women and men of the NYPD will remain laser focused on pushing crime even lower as we approach the end of the summer.”
Key highlights from this month’s crime statistics:
- Year-to-date, overall index crimes are down nearly two percent;
- There were 24 murders this month, tied for the lowest number on record since 2013 and down from 38 in 2017;
- The city experienced the lowest July numbers on record for robberies;
- There were 90 shooting incidents this month, the second lowest number on record, resulting in a decrease in shootings year-to-date.
There were 3,837 grand larcenies reported in July 2018, compared with 3,739 in July 2017. This is an increase of 98 crimes, or +2.6%. There were 600 grand larceny autos (GLA) reported in July 2018, compared with 525 in July 2017. This is an increase of 75 crimes, or +14.3%.
There were 1,344 crimes reported in the Transit Bureau year-to-date, compared with 1,383 in 2017. This is a decrease of 39 crimes, or -2.8%. For the month of July in transit, there were 198 crimes compared to 173 in July 2017. This is an increase of 25 crimes or +14.5%. There were 2,717 crimes reported in the Housing Bureau year-to-date, compared with 2,789 in 2017. This is a decrease of 72 crimes, or -2.6%. For the month of July in housing there were 409 crimes compared with 463 crimes reported in July 2017. This is a decrease of 54 crimes or -11.7%.
Looking to the month ahead, 300 Summer All Out officers are currently in place in commands across the city to reinforce the NYPD’s efforts to reduce crime in the season’s hottest months. Additionally, the department’s most recent class of more than 750 Police Academy graduates are now bolstering the uniformed presence in our 77 precincts. These additional resources will not only support the department’s relentless efforts to continue to drive down city-wide crime, and also create positive momentum as the NYPD moves toward achieving its end-of-year goals.
Note: All crime statistics are preliminary and subject to further analysis, revisions, or change.