The reduction in overall crime in New York City continued for the eighth month in a row in August 2024, realizing a significant 6.4 percent decrease citywide (10,869 vs. 11,618) from the same month last year. In the nation’s largest subway system, 81 fewer serious crimes occurred from the start of this year through the end of August, compared to the same period last year (1,398 vs. 1,479)—a 5.5 percent year-over-year drop that extended overall subway crime reductions to seven cumulative months, despite seven additional incidents occurring in the month of August. Discounting the COVID years, 2024 is currently the third-safest year on record for subway crime in New York, with fewer major felonies occurring this year than during any other year in modern history, save for 2010 (1,392 crimes) and 2009 (1,336 crimes). In the city’s public housing developments, there were 221 fewer incidents this year through the end of August (4,011 vs. 4,232), a 5.2 percent decrease compared to last year. In the monthly comparison, 83 fewer serious incidents occurred in housing this August (501 vs. 584), a 14.2 percent reduction.
Citywide, major crime is down 2.3 percent so far this year compared to the first eight months of last year. In August across the five boroughs, the category of murder saw the greatest decrease with 17 fewer killings (15 vs. 32), a hefty 53.1 percent reduction. Since the beginning of this year, 36 fewer people have been murdered in New York City than last year (242 vs. 278), a 12.9 percent decrease. The 15 murders that occurred in August 2024 represent the fewest number of killings to occur during any August in more than three decades.
Much of the continuing reductions in violence and disorder can be attributed to the NYPD’s many enforcement initiatives that result in seizures of illegal guns. From Jan. 1 through Aug. 31, NYPD officers took 4,473 illegal firearms off New York City streets, including 532 in the month of August alone. They are just part of the more than 18,085 total guns seized by police since the start of the current mayoral administration. This dangerous but critical work by NYPD officers has led to the fewest number of shooting incidents in New York City—74—during August of any year since modern recordkeeping began. The amount of shooting victims, too, is down 1.1 percent in August (94 vs. 95)—the second-lowest monthly figure in New York City’s recorded history—and down 8.5 percent year to date (735 vs. 803), amounting to 68 fewer people shot in the city this year through the end of August. Much of the NYPD’s success is attributable to robust enforcement in the streets and in the subway system, long- and short-term investigations that disrupt the “iron pipeline” responsible for funneling illegal guns into New York City from other states, and the dismantling of local gangs and crews.
Incidents of grand larceny decreased by 444 incidents in August (4,251 vs. 4,695), a 9.5 percent drop, followed by an 8.7 percent decrease in robbery (1,440 vs. 1,578); a 7.2 percent reduction in burglary (1,118 vs. 1,205); and a 5.5 percent drop in grand larceny—auto. Part of the NYPD’s comprehensive plan to thwart cases of stolen or unregistered vehicles, as well as the proliferation of forged temporary, paper, or otherwise fraudulent license plates, is to lead regular, multiagency task force operations at the city’s river crossings. The ongoing initiatives utilize personnel and resources from the NYPD, the NYC Sheriff’s Office, the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission, the New York State Police, the MTA, the Port Authority Police Department, and other law enforcement partners to identify and stop illegal vehicles and their drivers. Since its creation in March, the task force has carried out 38 operations through August, resulting in nearly 500 arrests and 18,500 summonses. Additionally, the group has so far seized approximately 2,125 vehicles associated with about $20 million in outstanding fees, fines, and taxes related to toll evasion, scofflaw driving, and related offenses. Across the city this year, the NYPD has also seized more than 20,200 illegal, two-wheeled motorized scooters and all-terrain vehicles through the end of August, already besting 2023’s complete-year tally of 18,430.
Potential bias incidents investigated by the NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force continued to rise in August, with the squad taking on 30 more cases than last August (57 vs. 27), 17 of which are anti-Muslim (17 vs. 0) in motivation. Year to date, investigators are probing 106 additional cases compared to 2023 (438 vs. 332), largely fueled by this year’s surge in anti-Jewish incidents.
Overall crime has decreased this year as the NYPD’s enforcement has conversely increased. Total arrests for major index crimes citywide jumped 4.6 percent in August (5,025 vs. 4,805)—a 24-year high—and 9.6 percent since the beginning of the year (38,839 vs. 35,442)—a 23-year high.
“The steep, continuing declines in shootings and murders in New York City are a testament to the hard work being done each day and night by the dedicated men and women of this police department,” said Police Commissioner Edward A. Caban. “Whether they are patrol officers walking a beat inside a housing development or seasoned detectives working some of the most complex investigations in the world, NYPD cops understand this basic truth: Fewer guns in the hands of criminals translate to safer neighborhoods and enhanced quality of life for all New Yorkers. So, we will continue to identify and combat emerging crime trends—such as the manufacture of untraceable, homemade ‘ghost guns,’ and armed robberies committed from the backs of motorized scooters—because that is how we will keep New York the safest big city in the nation. I commend every member of the NYPD for their skill in always remaining agile, and for helping our police department adapt to meet every challenge head-on.”
*All crime statistics are preliminary and subject to further analysis, revision, or change.*
Index Crime Statistics: August 2024
|
August 2024 |
August 2023 | +/- | % Change |
|---|
| Murder | 15 | 32 | -17 | -53.1% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rape | 126 | 116 | 10 | 8.6% |
| Robbery | 1440 | 1578 | -138 | -8.7% |
| Felony Assault | 2498 | 2488 | 10 | 0.4% |
| Burglary | 1118 | 1205 | -87 | -7.2% |
| Grand Larceny | 4251 | 4695 | -444 | -9.5% |
| Grand Larceny Auto | 1421 | 1504 | -83 | -5.5% |
| TOTAL | 10869 | 11618 | -749 | -6.4% |
Additional Statistics: August 2024
|
August 2024 |
August 2023 |
+/- | % Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Transit | 182 | 175 | 7 | 4.0% |
Housing | 501 | 584 | -83 | -14.2% |
Shooting Incidents | 74 | 87 | -13 | -14.9% |
Hate Crimes Statistics: August 2024
(Representing August 1 – August 31 for calendar years 2024 and 2023)
| Motivation | 2024 | 2023 | Diff | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Asian | 4 | 2 | 2 | 100% |
Black | 4 | 3 | 1 | 33% |
Ethnic | 4 | 1 | 3 | 300% |
Gender | 2 | 1 | 1 | 100% |
Hispanic | 1 | 2 | -1 | -50% |
Jewish | 19 | 12 | 7 | 58% |
Muslim | 17 | 0 | 17 | *** |
Religion | 3 | 0 | 3 | *** |
Sexual Orientation | 3 | 5 | -2 | -40% |
White | 0 | 1 | -1 | -100% |
Grand Total | 57 | 27 | 30 | 111% |
Note: Stats above are subject to change upon investigation,
as active possible bias cases June be reclassified to
non-bias cases and removed from counted data.
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