The NYPD has reported a 17% rise in major crimes on the city’s subway systems during the first five weeks of 2026, totaling 246 incidents compared with 210 during the same period in 2025. Public safety experts and police note that colder weather may be contributing to increased subway use, which could be linked to the higher number of incidents, according to Gothamist.
While above-ground crime in New York City has decreased by 7.5%, subway-related incidents have risen, prompting the NYPD to increase police presence underground. January had been recorded as the month with the fewest shootings in city history, but recent weekend attacks in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, where two women and a teenager were assaulted, have heightened concern. The NYPD noted that cold weather drives more people into the transit system, contributing to the rise in subway crimes, as per CBS News.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy raised questions about whether Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani were aware of the rise in subway crime. A spokesperson for Hochul said the governor prioritizes public safety and highlighted investments that contributed to record-low subway crime. The administration has also noted increased NYPD patrols, upgraded lighting, platform gates, and expanded mental health services.
Public safety researcher Paul Reeping said efforts should focus on expanding homeless outreach teams and increasing supportive housing options. NYPD data also showed a 15% drop in fare evasion summonses during the first six weeks of 2026, though the total remains the fourth-highest recorded for that period.
