The NYPD reported a slight decrease in overall index crime last month compared to November 2021 through citywide crime stats announced this past Monday, Dec. 5.
Rapes, burglaries and grand larcenies are down while murders, robberies, felony assaults and grand larcenies auto are up. In total, there were 127 fewer index crimes in November this year, a 1.2% decrease from 2021.
“As we near the end of this year, our department is seeing substantial, tangible progress toward our public-safety goals—and that is because of the dedicated work of our exceptional officers and civilian members,” said Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell. “The women and men of the NYPD have continued to reduce shootings, take illegal guns off our streets, increase arrests to bring justice for crime victims, and improve police-community relationships in every New York City neighborhood. Their work has yielded positive results, with major crime down in the month of November 2022 compared to the same period last year.
“Additionally, as we enter the second full month of our Transit Safety Awareness Campaign, major crime in our transit system has begun to decline—a strong indication that our officers and strategies are making a real difference in the everyday lives of New Yorkers. We will continue these collective efforts, always working toward one objective: the safety of all the people we serve.”
Despite five more murders last month compared to November 2021, there were 39 fewer shootings—a 32% decrease. The statistics are typically in lockstep, with gun violence as overwhelmingly the leading cause of homicides nationwide.
In the past 28 days up to Dec. 7, Manhattan North—which includes the 28th and 32nd Precinct in Harlem—saw only one murder and seven shooting incidents, an 83.3% and 72% decrease respectively from last year. The lone homicide was a fatal shooting in Hamilton Heights on Nov. 27.
In the Bronx, the eight homicides matched last year’s 28 day total, although shootings were down by 42.3%—the count includes the alleged stabbing deaths of two children by their mother on Thanksgiving weekend.
The NYPD also announced a “Holiday Safety Initiative” for December, featuring increased police presence at the historically most festive spots in the Big Apple, along with crackdowns on pickpocketing and gift card fraud.
Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member and writes about public safety for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.