Violence is up within the Huge Apple’s transit system — with robberies and murders surging — whilst general crime underground is down, in accordance with NYPD knowledge.
A maniac repeat-offender pushed an aged man to his demise on Manhattan subway stairs Thursday, cops stated — the fourth subway murder this yr, a 300% spike from the one homicide on the identical time final yr.
Cops introduced Rhamell Burke, described as an “emotionally disturbed individual,” to Bellevue Hospital’s psych ward at 3:30 p.m. Thursday. He was launched an hour later and at 9:30 p.m. allegedly shoved Ross Falzone, a 76-year-old retired instructor, down the steps of a Chelsea subway station.
Theft has additionally shot up by 18% to this point in 2026 over the identical span final yr, to 156 from 132, in accordance with NYPD knowledge.
Felony assault is down 6% to this point this yr, to 209 from 221, however has elevated 16% over the identical interval in 2024 and 60% from seven years in the past.
Misdemeanor assault — sometimes the cost for a punch — is up 15% to this point this yr from 500 to 573, and 68% from seven years in the past.
Main crimes in transit general, which embody homicide, rape, theft, felony assault and grand larceny, are down lower than a proportion level from 733 to 732, in accordance with NYPD knowledge.
Tickets for fare beating have dropped 8% to this point this yr, from 40,036 to 36,659, and 14% over the identical span two years in the past, in accordance with the info.
“What’s not stunning is that there appears to be a big improve in sure offenses that’s coupled with a lower in enforcement,” stated Rafael Mangual of the Manhattan Institute.
Exterior of transit the Huge Apple has been seeing historic lows in crime, together with the bottom month-to-month homicide rely in recorded historical past with 19 in April 2026, following the most secure first quarter for shootings and murders, which was pushed by precision policing and elevated officer hiring, in accordance with officers.
“Final yr was the most secure yr on New York Metropolis’s subway since 2009, excluding the pandemic years,” an NYPD spokesperson stated.
To date this yr, grand larcenies in transit have dropped 2.7% from 368 to 358.
The felony assaults embody numerous assaults in opposition to cops in transit — 28% or 58 to this point this yr, in comparison with 29% or 64 in the identical interval final yr, the spokesperson stated.
Out of the 157 theft stories this yr, 103 have resulted in an arrest, the spokesperson stated, including that among the robberies occurred after folks fell asleep on the practice.
“However there may be at all times extra we are able to do to make sure folks really feel protected, and that’s the reason we’ve lately added greater than 175 officers to the subway day by day, along with the conventional cops who’re at all times inside the transit system,” the spokesperson stated.
“Their focus is on stopping violence and responding instantly when one thing occurs. They work to make sure that the tens of millions of people that journey our subways every day can accomplish that safely.”
The subway murders included a beloved 83-year-old veteran who was randomly pushed onto the tracks by a stranger on March 8 and a 41-year-old man was shot lifeless on a Bronx subway platform when an argument between the sufferer and the gunman turned lethal.
A 55-year-old man died after he was punched on the northbound C/E platform at Penn Station round 7 p.m. March 14. Nassadir Tate, 21, was arrested and charged with assault however was later launched pending an post-mortem report.
In a single latest violent incident, a machete-wielding man slashed three aged folks within the subway at Grand Central Station on April 11, inflicting terrified straphangers to flee. A detective working on the Manhattan transit hub shot and killed the slasher.
Terrifying incidents like these could make folks really feel much less protected, Mangual stated.
He cited the NYPD’s Citywide High quality of Life stat, which reveals whole calls about complaints within the subway are up 34%, to 30,417, to this point this yr from 22,787 throughout the identical interval final yr.
“I’d say that’s a canary within the coal mine,” he stated. “When you will have these high quality of life complaints, you already know, going up like that, that tends to sign that one thing else is unsuitable within the system, alerts that there’s much less enforcement, that alerts that there’s much less oversight.”
Subway riders stated they have been conserving their heads on a swivel.
“I’ve witnessed hostile violent conduct, there must be extra police on the subways,” Higher East Aspect instructor Abel Navaro, 45, stated Friday.
Bri Soekoe, a 42-year-old Broadway producer, stated she appears like issues have gone downhill in her 25 years taking the subway.
“I do really feel like crime is up within the subway,” she stated. “I’ve skilled much more turnstile hopping and much more harassing on subway vehicles.”
Harlem engineer Susie Gonzales, 50, stated she worries about her security.
“As a mature single feminine, it’s harmful,” she stated. “I noticed somebody pull out a machete on the 1 line.””
Peter Schepper, 61, works at an Higher East Aspect body store his good friend was pushed on the tracks.
“They pulled him out earlier than the practice got here,” he stated. “It was a loopy homeless one who pushed him.”
