Subway crime fell 4% in 2025 compared to the previous year, according to NYPD data, though transit advocates say the numbers don’t tell the full story about rider safety — and December’s uptick in felonies has officials concerned about the start of 2026.
Across the six major subway crime categories tracked by police, there were 2,160 reported incidents in 2025, down from 2,251 in 2024 — a drop of 91 crimes. But felonies on the rails rose slightly in December, bucking the year’s overall downward trend and raising questions about whether the improvement can be sustained.
“While we’re encouraged by the overall decline, the December numbers remind us that subway safety requires constant vigilance,” an NYPD spokesperson said. “We’re analyzing the data to understand what drove the month-over-month increase.”
The year-end figures come as the MTA grapples with ridership that’s still recovering from pandemic lows, making rider confidence in system safety crucial for the agency’s financial stability. Transit officials have repeatedly pointed to crime statistics — both real and perceived — as factors keeping some New Yorkers from returning to the subway.
December’s felony increase adds complexity to what transportation officials had hoped would be an unambiguously positive story about system safety. The six crime categories tracked include robbery, felony assault, grand larceny, burglary, rape, and murder.
Grand larceny — typically phone and wallet thefts — makes up the largest share of subway crime, accounting for roughly 60% of incidents. These crimes often occur during rush hours when packed trains create opportunities for pickpockets, and at stations where riders are distracted by phones while waiting for trains.
The overall decline continues a trend that began in late 2022, when subway crime peaked amid broader concerns about public safety citywide. Since then, the NYPD has increased its transit police presence, deploying officers to high-crime stations and implementing what officials call “precision deployment” based on crime patterns.
Transit advocates, however, argue that crime statistics alone don’t capture the full rider experience. Harassment, aggressive behavior, and quality-of-life issues that don’t rise to the level of reportable crimes can make riders feel unsafe even when major crime numbers decline.
“The numbers moving in the right direction is good news, but ask any regular rider and they’ll tell you about incidents that never show up in police reports,” said Danny Pearlstein of the Riders Alliance. “We need comprehensive approaches to safety that go beyond just policing.”
The December uptick in felonies complicates the narrative for MTA officials, who have spent months highlighting improved safety metrics to encourage ridership. The agency has invested heavily in security cameras, improved lighting, and communication systems designed to help riders report incidents quickly.
Subway ridership in 2025 averaged roughly 4.3 million daily passengers on weekdays, still below pre-pandemic levels of 5.5 million but showing steady recovery. Safety concerns consistently rank among the top reasons former riders cite for avoiding the system, making crime reduction essential for the MTA’s long-term financial health.
The geographic distribution of subway crime remains concentrated in Midtown Manhattan stations, where tourist traffic and major transit hubs create both opportunity and anonymity for criminals. Times Square-42nd Street, Herald Square, and Union Square stations consistently rank among locations with the highest incident reports.
In Brooklyn, high-crime stations include Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center and Fulton Street, while Queens sees elevated numbers at Roosevelt Avenue-Jackson Heights. The Bronx’s highest-crime stations center around major commercial areas like 149th Street-Grand Concourse.
Staten Island riders, who primarily use the ferry system, aren’t reflected in subway crime statistics, though the St. George terminal sees its share of incidents that affect commuters transferring between the ferry and other transit modes.
Police officials say they’re studying December’s data to determine whether the felony increase represents seasonal patterns, specific incidents that skewed numbers, or emerging trends that require tactical adjustments. Winter months historically see different crime patterns than summer, with fewer overall incidents but sometimes more serious offenses.
The MTA’s 2026 budget includes continued funding for transit police, though advocates argue the agency should also invest in mental health services, cleaning, and maintenance that can improve the overall rider environment. Recent service changes have shown how operational decisions affect rider experience beyond just crime statistics.
For daily riders, the year-over-year decline provides some reassurance, but December’s numbers serve as a reminder that subway safety requires ongoing attention from both law enforcement and transit officials. The challenge now is maintaining the downward trend while addressing whatever factors drove the late-year uptick.
As 2026 begins, transit officials say they’re committed to building on 2025’s overall progress while closely monitoring monthly trends. For the millions of New Yorkers who depend on the subway system, the hope is that December proves to be an anomaly rather than the start of a new pattern.
