If you've spent any time on a platform in Manhattan or Brooklyn lately, you know the feeling. You're standing there, maybe at 2:00 AM at Canal Street or just during the 5:30 PM rush, and you're looking over your shoulder. It’s a specific kind of New York anxiety. People call it "the vibe." But here is the thing: the conversation around New York City subway crime is usually a mess of political grandstanding and localized panic that doesn't always line up with what the NYPD’s CompStat numbers actually say.
It’s complicated.
One day the headlines are screaming about a random shoving incident, and the next, the Mayor is standing at a podium in City Hall claiming that the system is safer than it’s been in decades. They both might be right, in a weird way. While major felonies like murders or shootings in the transit system are statistically rare—we’re talking about a handful of cases in a system that sees millions of riders daily—the "quality of life" issues are what actually grate on people. Smoking, aggressive panhandling, and people experiencing mental health crises in confined metal tubes make the stats feel like a lie.
What the Numbers Actually Tell Us About New York City Subway Crime
Let's look at the data because the data doesn't care about your political party. According to official NYPD transit bureau reports from 2024 and early 2025, major crime in the subway system has seen some pretty sharp fluctuations. For instance, in early 2024, there was a high-profile surge in high-visibility crimes that led Governor Kathy Hochul to deploy the National Guard to the subways. That was a massive visual statement. Seeing fatigues and long guns at Grand Central changes how you feel about your morning commute, even if those soldiers aren't actually making arrests.
Stats show that grand larcenies—basically people getting their phones swiped or bags snatched while they’re distracted—make up a huge chunk of the pie. It’s opportunistic. You’re looking at your phone, the doors are about to close, and yoink, someone grabs it and hops off. That happens a lot.
But violence?
The murder rate in the subway is actually tiny compared to the city at large. Most years, you can count the number of homicides on your fingers. When one happens, like the tragic death of Michelle Go or the Jordan Neely incident, it sends shockwaves through the city because it taps into our collective fear of being trapped. We aren't just walking down a street where we can run; we are in a tunnel.
The NYPD Transit Bureau, currently led by Chief Michael Kemper, has been pushing "omnipresence." That’s their fancy word for putting a cop on every platform and making sure they aren't just staring at their phones. Since the "Subway Safety Plan" was launched under Mayor Eric Adams, the city has spent millions in overtime to keep officers visible. Does it work? Some experts, like those at the Brennan Center for Justice, argue that heavy policing doesn't solve the underlying issues of homelessness and mental health that often manifest as transit disorder.
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Others say it’s the only thing keeping the city from sliding back into the 1970s.
Why Your Perception of Safety is Probably Different From the Mayor's
There's a massive gap between "statistically safe" and "feeling safe." This is where the debate over New York City subway crime gets heated. If you see someone screaming at a ghost in a train car, the NYPD doesn't count that as a crime. It’s not an assault until someone gets hit. It’s not a robbery until something is taken. But for the person sitting three seats away, that experience is terrifying. It ruins their day. It makes them want to buy a car or take an Uber.
The "broken windows" theory is alive and well here. The idea is that if you ignore the small stuff—fare jumping, public urination, smoking—it creates an environment where bigger crimes feel permissible.
Lately, there’s been a crackdown on fare evasion. You’ve probably seen the "Eagle Teams" or groups of six cops standing by the turnstiles at Atlantic Ave-Barclays Ctr. The city loses hundreds of millions of dollars a year to fare beaters, but the police also claim that people who jump the turnstiles are often the same people carrying illegal weapons. By stopping a $2.90 theft, they claim they’re stopping a potential shooting. Critics call it a tax on the poor. It’s a stalemate.
The Mental Health Crisis Under the Streets
You can't talk about crime in the tunnels without talking about the beds. Or the lack of them. Since the pandemic, the subway has become a de facto shelter for hundreds of New Yorkers. This isn't just a "homelessness" issue; it’s a failure of the psychiatric care system.
Organizations like the Coalition for the Homeless have pointed out that most people living in the subway are victims of crime themselves, not the perpetrators. They are vulnerable. However, when a person in a state of psychosis interacts with a frustrated commuter in a crowded space, things go sideways fast.
The city’s response has been "SCOUT" teams—Specialized Care and Outreach Units. These are pairs of clinicians and cops who go into the stations to try and coax people into shelters or hospitals. It’s slow work. It’s frustrating. And frankly, it’s not always successful because the "out-of-sight, out-of-mind" approach doesn't work when the person just moves from the L train to the G train.
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Tracking the Hotspots
Not every station is created equal. If you're at a quiet stop in Forest Hills, you're likely fine. But the big hubs? That's where the friction happens.
- Times Square-42nd St: The busiest station in the world (or close to it) naturally has the most incidents. It’s a maze, and it’s where tourists—prime targets for pickpockets—converge with the city’s most desperate populations.
- 125th Street (4, 5, 6): This has been a focal point for the city’s "quality of life" task forces for years.
- Fulton Street: A massive, modern complex that still struggles with erratic behavior in its long underground walkways.
The MTA has been installing thousands of new cameras. They now claim that every single subway car has some form of camera surveillance. That doesn't always stop a crime, but it sure helps the NYPD catch the person afterward. We’ve seen a massive increase in the "catch rate" for high-profile assaults because there’s almost nowhere to hide anymore. If you do something on camera, you’re probably going to be on the evening news by 6:00 PM.
Real Talk: How to Stay Safe Without Being Paranoid
Look, the New York City subway is still the lifeblood of the city. Without it, the whole thing stops. You shouldn't be afraid to ride it, but you should be smart. This isn't about blaming victims; it's about navigating a complex urban environment.
First, don't stand right on the yellow line. We’ve all seen the "shoving" videos. They are rare, but they are horrific. Stand back by the pillars or the wall until the train actually stops. It’s just common sense in a city with 8 million people.
Second, if a car is empty, there is a reason. New Yorkers know this. If you see a train pull into the station and one car is completely empty while the others are packed, do not get in that car. It usually means the AC is broken, or someone has turned it into a bathroom, or there’s a situation you don't want to be part of. Trust the crowd.
Third, keep your head on a swivel. The "smartphone trance" is real. If you’re buried in your AirPods with noise cancellation turned on, you have no idea what’s happening five feet behind you. Use one earbud. Keep your phone tucked away when the doors are opening and closing.
What’s Actually Changing in 2025 and 2026?
We are seeing a shift toward technology. The new R211 cars have wider doors and better lighting, which sounds small but actually reduces that feeling of being trapped in a dingy, dark box. The MTA is also experimenting with platform screen doors at a few select stations, like the Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av station. These are glass barriers that only open when the train arrives. They are expensive, and the 100-year-old architecture of most stations makes them nearly impossible to install everywhere, but they are a start.
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There’s also a push for more transparency. You can now go online and see the "Transit Crime" dashboard provided by the NYPD. It’s updated weekly. It shows you exactly what’s happening in your precinct. Knowledge is power, or at least it’s a way to realize that your "scary" station might actually have fewer incidents than the one in the "fancy" neighborhood.
The debate over New York City subway crime isn't going away. It’s too useful for politicians during election cycles. But for those of us who live here, it’s just part of the cost of doing business in the greatest city on earth. You take the good with the bad, you keep your eyes open, and you keep moving.
Actionable Steps for the Everyday Rider
If you want to stay safe and help improve the system, stop waiting for the Mayor to fix everything and take these steps:
1. Download the MYmta App and the NYPD Transit App
You can report "non-emergency" issues directly through the MTA’s WhatsApp or text lines. If there is a spill, a broken light, or someone acting erratic but not yet dangerous, report it. The more data they have, the more resources they allocate.
2. Use the "Conductor" Car
If you’re riding late at night, try to board the car in the middle of the train where the conductor is located. Look for the black-and-white "zebra" board hanging from the ceiling of the station; that’s where the conductor’s window will be. Being near a transit employee is an immediate deterrent for most low-level crime.
3. Don't Engage with Aggression
This is NYC 101. If someone is acting out or trying to pick a fight, do not make eye contact. Do not film them with your phone (which can escalate things). Move to the next car at the next stop. Your ego isn't worth a trip to the ER.
4. Carry a Portable Charger
A dead phone is a safety hazard. If you need to call for help or navigate an unfamiliar exit because your usual line is redirected, you need power.
5. Trust Your Gut Over the Stats
If a station feels wrong, leave. If a person makes the hair on your neck stand up, move. The CompStat numbers might say you're safe, but your lizard brain has been evolving for millions of years to detect threats. Use it.
The subway is safer than the 80s, more crowded than the 90s, and more complicated than ever. Just pay attention.