Major Crime Declined 10.6% Citywide and More than 6% in Transit in May
Set New Record Low for the Fewest Shooting Incidents and Shooting Victims in May
Safest Start to the Year in Public Housing in Recorded History with Fewest Murders, Shooting Incidents, Shooting Victims, and Robberies
Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch today announced that the NYPD delivered the fewest murders, shooting incidents, and shooting victims in recorded history for the first five months of the year. Year to date, murders were down 20.9% (102 vs. 129), the lowest level ever recorded for the first five months of any year, beating the previous record of 113, set in 2014 and 2017. Shootings were down 5.7% with 247 total incidents, surpassing the previous record of 262 set in 2025, and shooting victims were down 7.1% with 289 total victims, surpassing the previous low of 309 set in 2019.
The NYPD also broke records for the month of May. In May, there were two fewer shooting incidents compared to the previous record low set in 2025 (51 vs. 53), and seven fewer shooting victims than the previous record also set in 2025 (58 vs. 65).
Overall major crime decreased 10.6% citywide (9,662 vs. 10,809) with 1,147 fewer reported crimes compared to last May. Year to date, major crime was down 6.2% (44,955 vs. 47,929) with reductions in all five boroughs.
The NYPD continued to deliver historic lows in crime in New York City’s public housing with the fewest murders, shooting incidents, shooting victims, and robberies for the first five months of any year in recorded history.
“Across our city, the NYPD is delivering on its mission to keep New Yorkers safe,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “With record lows in murders, shooting incidents, and shooting victims, as well as the safest start to the year in public housing, and continued reductions in subway crime, New Yorkers across every corner of our city are benefitting from a police department that is focused and strategic. These accomplishments are the result of a precision policing approach that follows the data, goes after guns, takes down gangs, and puts our officers where and when they are needed most. In the month of May, crime plunged by 10.6% citywide. As we enter the summer and prepare for an unprecedented number of large-scale events, the men and women of the NYPD will continue to put in the hard work necessary to keep New York City safe.”
For the month, shooting incidents and shooting victims dropped compared to last May with a 3.8% (51 vs. 53) and 10.8% (58 vs. 65) decrease, respectively. Year to date, shooting incidents declined 5.7% (247 vs. 262) and shooting victims declined 7.1% (289 vs. 311). Brooklyn led the city with a 47.6% reduction in shooting incidents (11 vs. 21).
Today’s announcement comes on the heels of the safest Memorial Day weekend in the city’s history with only three shooting incidents and four shooting victims across the four-day stretch, from Friday, May 22 through Monday, May 25, breaking last year’s record when there were seven shooting incidents and seven shooting victims.
The NYPD’s sustained efforts to dismantle violent gangs have also contributed to reductions in shootings citywide and the number of guns taken off the streets. So far this year, NYPD detectives have carried out 20 gang-related takedowns, and the department has seized nearly 2,000 guns.
Additionally, across major crime categories:
- Murder declined 20.9% (102 vs. 129) year to date, a record low, and there were reductions in all five boroughs;
- Burglary declined 19.5% (871 vs. 1,082) in May, the second lowest in recorded history, and there were double-digit declines in every borough year to date;
- Robbery declined 18.1% (1,165 vs. 1,423) in May and was down 11% year to date (5,198 vs. 5,838);
- Auto theft declined 13% (1,072 vs. 1,232) in May with Manhattan experiencing a 44.3% reduction. Auto theft was down 9.6% year to date (4,734 vs. 5,237);
- Grand larceny declined 12.4% (3,625 vs. 4,136) in May and 4.6% year to date (17,716 vs. 18,576).
Felony assaults increased slightly by 0.4% (2,734 vs. 2,722) in May. Over the past several years, there has been an increase in felony assaults, and the main drivers of those increases are domestic incidents (54% increase since 2020), assaults on police officers (103% increase since 2020), and assaults on other government workers (200% increase since 2020).
To address the rise in domestic violence incidents, Commissioner Tisch created the Domestic Violence Unit within the Detective Bureau, a streamlined unit with 450 domestic violence investigators. So far this year, domestic violence arrests are up 2.9%.
May saw a 10.4% decrease in reported rape incidents (172 vs. 192) compared to the same month last year. In September 2024, legislative changes enacted through the Rape is Rape Act rightfully broadened the legal definition of rape in New York State to include additional forms of sexual assault. Over the month of May, 18% (31) of all reported rapes resulted from the expanded legal definition, and 26% (44) occurred before May 2026. Year to date, rapes have increased 6.7% (893 vs. 837), with 20% (175) resulting from the law change and 32% (287) occurring before 2026. Through the creation of the first-in-the-nation Gender-Based Violence Policy and Training Unit, the NYPD has enhanced its work with advocates to encourage all survivors of sexual assault to come forward and report these incidents.
Retail theft continued its dramatic decline, falling 15% (3,851 vs. 4,528) in May compared to the same period last year. For the year, retail theft has declined in all five boroughs, leading to an 18.8% reduction citywide. The decline reflects the department’s focused approach to addressing retail theft: identifying crime patterns, deploying resources at high-propensity locations during peak hours, and shifting from pass-through enforcement to sustained investigations.
To address youth violence, the department implemented its Youth Violence Safety Zones, modeled after the Violence Reduction Plan. These zones focus on the areas where young people are most at risk — commuter corridors, bus stops, and routes to and from school. Since its inception in September 2025, overall youth-related crime is down 52.7% (185 vs. 391), shooting incidents are down 61.9% (8 vs. 21), and shooting victims are down 60.9% (9 vs. 23) in the zones during deployment hours.
In May 2026, the HCTF confirmed 68 incidents as hate crimes and there were 98 incidents reported as hate crimes. Confirmed hate crimes are up by 74.4% (68 vs. 39) compared to the previous May. More than half of all confirmed hate crimes for the month, or 60.3%, were anti-Jewish, despite Jewish New Yorkers making up only 10% of the city’s population.
Year to date, the number of confirmed hate crimes increased by 8.6%, with 21 more confirmed hate crime incidents compared to the year prior (265 vs. 244).
*All crime statistics are preliminary and subject to further analysis, revision, or change. *
Major Crime Statistics: May 2026
| Crime | May 2026 | May 2025 | +/- | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murder | 23 | 22 | 1 | 4.5% |
| Rape | 172 | 192 | -20 | -10.4% |
| Robbery | 1,165 | 1,423 | -258 | -18.1% |
| Felony Assault | 2,734 | 2,722 | 12 | 0.4% |
| Burglary | 871 | 1,082 | -211 | -19.5% |
| Grand Larceny | 3,625 | 4,136 | -511 | -12.4% |
| Grand Larceny Auto | 1,072 | 1,232 | -160 | -13.0% |
| TOTAL | 9,662 | 10,809 | -1,147 | -10.6% |
| May 2026 | May 2025 | +/- | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Transit | 187 | 200 | -13 | -6.5% |
Housing | 459 | 519 | -60 | -11.6% |
Shooting Incidents | 51 | 53 | -2 | -3.8% |
| Motivation | 2026 Confirmed | 2025 Confirmed | +/- | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Asian | 3 | 2 | 1 | 50% |
Black | 0 | 5 | -5 | -100% |
Ethnicity | 1 | 2 | -1 | -50% |
Gender | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
Hispanic | 1 | 0 | 1 | *** |
Jewish | 41 | 24 | 17 | 70.8% |
Muslim | 5 | 3 | 2 | 66.7% |
Religion | 10 | 1 | 9 | 900% |
Sexual Orientation | 5 | 1 | 4 | 400% |
White | 1 | 0 | 1 | *** |
Total | 68 | 39 | 29 | 74.4% |
| Motivation | Reported |
|---|---|
| Asian | 4 |
| Black | 2 |
| Ethnicity | 2 |
| Gender | 1 |
| Hispanic | 1 |
| Jewish | 60 |
| Muslim | 5 |
| Religion | 12 |
| Sexual Orientation | 10 |
| White | 1 |
| Total | 98 |
| Motivation | 2026 Confirmed | 2025 Confirmed | +/- | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Age | 1 | 0 | 1 | *** |
Asian | 9 | 11 | -2 | -18.2% |
Black | 18 | 21 | -3 | -14.3% |
Ethnicity | 4 | 12 | -8 | -66.7% |
Gender | 7 | 6 | 1 | 16.7% |
Hispanic | 9 | 3 | 6 | 200% |
Jewish | 152 | 143 | 9 | 6.3% |
Muslim | 17 | 10 | 7 | 70% |
Religion | 24 | 20 | 4 | 20% |
Sexual Orientation | 22 | 13 | 9 | 69.2% |
White | 2 | 5 | -3 | -60% |
Total | 265 | 244 | 21 | 8.6% |
No comments:
Post a Comment