If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, you’ve probably seen the videos. It’s usually a grainy cell phone clip of a shoplifting spree in Midtown or a tense moment on the A train. It makes it feel like the city is sliding into some kind of 1970s-style chaos. But if you look at the actual New York criminal news hitting the wires this January 2026, the reality is a lot more complicated—and honestly, a bit surprising.
The NYPD just wrapped up its year-end data for 2025, and Commissioner Jessica Tisch basically took a victory lap. Why? Because the numbers show that gun violence has hit historic lows. We’re talking about the fewest shooting incidents and victims in recorded history. In December alone, there were only 35 shootings across the entire city. That’s a wild stat when you consider New York has over 8 million people.
The Reality of New York Criminal News in 2026
So, is the city "back"? Kinda. But it depends on who you ask and what neighborhood they live in. While the big headlines shout about falling murder rates—which dropped about 20% in 2025—there’s a different story happening with other types of crime.
For example, felony assaults are still stubbornly high. They actually ticked up slightly last year, mostly driven by domestic violence and attacks on police officers. And then there’s the issue of sexual assault. Reported rapes jumped by 16% in 2025. Now, part of that is because the legal definition of rape was broadened in 2024 to include more types of nonconsensual contact. It’s a good move for justice, but it makes the data look scary on paper.
What's Going on Under the Streets?
The subway used to be the biggest worry for most commuters. But according to Governor Kathy Hochul, the "Subway Safety Partnership" is actually working. They’ve poured millions into extra patrols—$77 million more is earmarked for 2026—and it’s showing. Transit robberies are at an all-time low.
🔗 Read more: Trump Eliminate Department of Education: What Most People Get Wrong
Basically, the risk of being a victim of a major felony on the subway has dropped to about 1.6 incidents per million riders. You’ve probably noticed more cops on the platforms. Love it or hate it, that presence is the main reason those numbers are down.
Retail Theft and the Task Force Results
You can’t talk about New York criminal news without mentioning shoplifting. For a while, it felt like every Walgreens in Manhattan was under siege. The State Police Organized Retail Theft Task Force has been busy, though. They’ve recovered over $2.6 million in stolen goods and made over 1,200 arrests.
Because of these targeted operations, retail theft dropped by about 14% last year. They’re finally moving away from just "chasing the guy out the door" to actually investigating the crime rings that sell this stuff online.
High-Profile Cases You Should Know About
It’s not just about the stats, though. The individual stories coming out of the courts right now are pretty intense.
💡 You might also like: Trump Derangement Syndrome Definition: What Most People Get Wrong
- The Power of Attorney Betrayal: Just yesterday, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg announced the conviction of Rosalind Hernandez. She was a building super in Chelsea who befriended a 100-year-old tenant. Once she got Power of Attorney, she allegedly cleaned out $350,000 of his life savings. She used the money for clothes, haircuts, and even an entrepreneurship program. It’s a heartbreaking case that reminds people how vulnerable the elderly are in the city.
- Operation Salvo: This is a big federal-led push. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem recently gave an update on this. It started after an off-duty CBP officer was shot in a park last July. Since then, they’ve been rounding up members of the Trinitarios gang. About 60% of those arrested in this operation have already been removed from the country.
- The Fentanyl Pipeline: Up in the Northern District, a guy named Jabree Jones—goes by "Breezy"—just got handed 330 months in federal prison. He was running a massive ring that flooded the streets with fentanyl and cocaine. When the feds raided his spots, they found 34 firearms, including a machine gun.
The Youth Crime Paradox
Here’s the thing that keeps the NYPD up at night: while overall crime is down, the people involved are getting younger. In 2025, about 14% of shooting victims and 18% of the shooters were under the age of 18. There was a tragic case just last week where a 15-year-old, Eric Aitken, was killed in the Bronx. The suspected shooter? Possibly as young as 13.
To fight this, the city has set up "School Safety Zones." They aren't just putting cops in the hallways; they’re patrolling the bus stops and corridors where kids hang out after the bell rings. Early data suggests it's helping, with school-related crime down 22%, but it's still a heavy situation.
Why the Narrative Doesn't Always Match the Data
You might be wondering: if murders and shootings are at record lows, why does everyone feel so uneasy?
It’s likely because of "quality of life" crimes. Things like public drug use, erratic behavior from people with untreated mental health issues, and the sheer visibility of retail theft. These don't always show up as "major felonies" in the CompStat reports, but they definitely affect how safe people feel when they’re walking to dinner in Hell’s Kitchen or the East Village.
📖 Related: Trump Declared War on Chicago: What Really Happened and Why It Matters
Also, New York is under a new administration now. Mayor Zohran Mamdani just took office, and he’s kept Commissioner Tisch on board to continue her "precision policing" model. This means using data to flood specific blocks with officers rather than just doing random patrols. It’s effective for numbers, but some critics worry it leads to over-policing in certain minority communities.
Actionable Steps for New Yorkers
Staying safe in a city as big as New York isn't just about luck. It’s about being informed and taking basic precautions.
- Monitor Your Local Precinct: Every precinct has a community council meeting. If you're worried about a specific corner or a recurring issue in your neighborhood, that’s where you go to get answers directly from the commanding officer.
- Use the Notify NYC App: This is the city's official emergency alert system. It's actually really good for real-time updates on police activity, major accidents, or public safety threats in your specific borough.
- Protect Your Digital Footprint: With the rise in elder abuse and Power of Attorney fraud cases like the one in Chelsea, make sure your older relatives have their accounts monitored. Set up "read-only" access to their bank accounts so you can spot weird transactions before the money is gone.
- Reporting Retail Crime: If you see a theft in progress, don't intervene. It’s not worth the risk. Instead, try to get a description of the vehicle or the direction of flight and call 911 once you’re safe. The NYPD’s new strategy relies heavily on "pattern identification," so your report might be the missing piece in a larger investigation.
The landscape of New York criminal news is always shifting. While the "bad old days" of the 90s aren't back, the new challenges of 2026—like youth violence and sophisticated financial fraud—require a different kind of vigilance. Keeping an eye on the actual data, rather than just the viral clips, is the first step toward understanding what’s really going on in the five boroughs.