The New York City subway system has seen a decrease in criminal activity, with a 4% decline in major crimes reported for the year 2025. Overall, incidents fell from 2,251 to 2,160 according to NYPD data. This drop in crime, hailed by officials, marked the safest year on the rails since 2009, excluding years affected by the coronavirus pandemic. AM New York provided these details ahead of the MTA's January board meeting.
Robberies and grand larcenies primarily contributed to this downturn, with robberies decreasing by 57 incidents and grand larcenies by 41 compared to the previous year. Murders dropped significantly by 60%, falling from ten in 2024 to four in 2025. However, not all statistics suggested positive news; there was a 50% increase in reported rapes, and slight upticks in felony assaults were observed, according to AM New York.
Despite this general decline, December 2025 revealed a minor rise in crimes compared to December 2024, with grand larcenies and felony assaults witnessing the most significant increases, AM New York reported. In response to these shifts, Governor Kathy Hochul's administration has remained committed to enhancing subway security through increased patrols and infrastructure improvements, such as the proposed installation of additional platform edge barriers.
NYPD Chief of Transit Joseph Gulotta commented on strategies that may have contributed to the lower crime rates, emphasizing not just the increased presence of law enforcement but actions taken against disruptive behavior that could lead to a "sense of lawlessness," such as smoking or drinking in the subway. This approach seeks to address the smaller, quality-of-life offenses that can contribute to passengers' overall sense of safety. "That’s our officers doing their job," Gulotta explained when discussing the slight rise in assaults, particularly noting that a significant portion of these were against officers or MTA workers, reported by NY1.
In their mission to maintain and further improve safety, the NYPD continues to carry out overnight patrols, where officers wake passengers as a preventive measure against theft and other crimes of opportunity. These efforts, alongside the ubiquitous presence of surveillance cameras that greatly facilitate the identification and tracking of repeat offenders, are seen as key factors in the reported crime reduction. With the continued financial backing from the state, including the $77 million allocated for overnight patrols, authorities aim to sustain these interventions moving forward, as outlined by Gulotta, according to NY1.
