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Upper West Side Shows Increase in Major Crimes Despite Citywide Drop: Stats

April 8, 2023 | 10:03 AM
in CRIME, NEWS
61

By Bob Tannenhauser

Major crimes are on the rise on the Upper West Side this year, despite a decrease in most major crime categories across the city. The major crime categories are: Murder, Rape, Robbery, Felony Assault, Burglary, Grand Larceny, Grand Larceny Auto.

New York City

Released by the NYPD on Thursday April 6, citywide statistics for the month of March 2023 compared to March 2022 showed a decrease in four of the seven major crime categories, including: murder down 11.4% (31 v. 35), rape down 0.8% (130 v. 131), robbery down 1.4% (1,253 v. 1,271), and burglary down 12.5% (1,185 v. 1,355).

The year-to-date NYPD CompStat NYC data ending April 2, 2023 show declines in five of the major crime categories with murder and rape incidents declining by 10.7% and 8.5% respectively, and felony assaults and grand larceny auto increasing by 9% and 7% respectively. The overall major crime index for NYC in the period ending April 2nd increased by 0.19%.

“The continuing drop in shootings, homicides, and other violence in New York City is a direct result of the hard work performed each day and night by the women and men of the NYPD,” said Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell, at a press conference.

The Upper West Side

The year-to-date (April 2nd) statistics for the 20th and 24th precincts, comprising the UWS, are presented below. The total incidents of the seven major crimes increased by 23, with increases in five of the seven major crime categories. There have been three murders on the Upper West Side this year compared to none in 2022. The nine rape incidents so far this year represent an increase of three compared to last year.

YTD 4/2/23 YTD 4/2/22 Difference
20th Pct
Murder 1 0 1
Rape 5 5 0
Robbery 25 24 1
Felony Assault 26 18 8
Burglary 39 37 2
Grand Larceny 172 175 -3
Grand Larceny Auto 21 14 7
Total 289 273 16
YTD 4/2/23 YTD 4/2/22 Difference
24th Pct
Murder 2 0 2
Rape 4 1 3
Robbery 29 37 -8
Felony Assault 36 32 4
Burglary 37 66 -29
Grand Larceny 137 115 22
Grand Larceny Auto 28 15 13
Total 273 266 7
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61 Comments
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Katherine
Katherine
2 years ago

I’m sure the homeless shelter for 100+ people with no background checks at 83rd St. will totally help.

92
Reply
Cupcake
Cupcake
2 years ago
Reply to  Katherine

Pretty nasty to accuse folks who need a hand up with potential rapes and murders.

11
Reply
MJB
MJB
2 years ago

Wait till the new supportive housing opens in 108 st. I am terrified of what is coming.

92
Reply
Cupcake
Cupcake
2 years ago
Reply to  MJB

You accuse people of potential crimes they have not committed? Who does that?

7
Reply
MJB
MJB
2 years ago
Reply to  Cupcake

1 didn’t accuse anyone
2 I am terrified and you have no right to invalidate how I feel.

28
Reply
Ross
Ross
2 years ago
Reply to  MJB

Statistically, the homeless are more often victims of crime than perpetrators of it.

22
Reply
Zach
Zach
2 years ago
Reply to  Ross

Of course I feel for them, but that doesn’t seem like a very useful statistic. There are generally way more victims than criminals in any population. That tells you nothing about how likely that group is to commit crime.

9
Reply
Imelda V.
Imelda V.
2 years ago
Reply to  Ross

If true, then how insensitive is it to place extremely vulnerable people into a neighborhood that is experiencing rising crime? You would think DHS would be siting shelter in safer neighborhoods?

28
Reply
MJB
MJB
2 years ago
Reply to  Ross

Totally irrelevant statistics quote. We are not talking about what percentage of the homeless is victims or perpetrators. Of course most of them are not criminals. That’s where your quote will be valid. We are talking about the increase of mentally ill or formerly incarcerated regardless of what percentage of the homeless population they make. That increase will without a doubt contribute to crime in our neighborhood .

59
Reply
Eric
Eric
2 years ago
Reply to  MJB

PUH-LEEZ

There was a good reason why we were read “Chicken Little” as children.

6
Reply
MJB
MJB
2 years ago
Reply to  Eric

Ah, a man dismissing a woman’s concern in a very condescending manner. What else is new.

I already had a few bad experiences with the homeless, I guess because I didn’t reread Chicken Little.

79
Reply
Judy Weiss
Judy Weiss
2 years ago
Reply to  MJB

As a woman, I totally agree with Eric

1
Reply
James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  MJB

How could he know you’re a woman when you post anonymously?

10
Reply
Dana
Dana
2 years ago
Reply to  MJB

I am bracing myself for that. My children are not at PS9 but will be passing it on the way to their school. I won’t let them walk to school anymore, only a bus. We have no money to Uber every day.

64
Reply
Jen
Jen
2 years ago
Reply to  Dana

Same here. My kids will now be taking a bus.

52
Reply
James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  Jen

https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-nypd-cop-shot-jamaica-queens-20230405-lm5jn7nygfdb5aixrpeulotvyi-story.html

“ It began around 3:20 p.m. when the suspected gunman and another passenger began to quarrel over a seat on an eastbound MTA bus on Jamaica Ave., according to NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig.”

0
Reply
MJB
MJB
2 years ago
Reply to  James

Not even clear what point you are trying to make. In this case people are concerned about encountering mentally ill violent homeless on the street which will literally be flooded with the homeless soon. Less likely on a bus. Are you trying to say we are not safe anywhere?

Last edited 2 years ago by MJB
23
Reply
good humor
good humor
2 years ago

Looks like there’s at least one upside to all the store closings.

5
Reply
Will
Will
2 years ago

Increase in violent crimes on the UWS. Many reasons. Lack of police presence, lack of cameras, endless opening of homeless and safe haven houses more than any other neighborhood in the city, poor politicians who want to defund crime and safety initiatives, bail reform, endless smoke and pot shops, and lack of now a second mayoral administration to look at Manhattan, specifically the UWS.

84
Reply
Adam
Adam
2 years ago
Reply to  Will

Bed, Bath, and Beyond is now going, going, gone. That’s another huge empty space (and more lay offs). We need city council, Mayor, and Washington reps to get some businesses going here. Which came first: the UWS business closings or the UWS crime? I’m really asking–not a wisenhammer question.

7
Reply
Trish H.
Trish H.
2 years ago
Reply to  Will

I could not agree more. People need to wake up. We can no longer afford to good vibes our way through policymaking. Times are about to be much worse.

57
Reply
Alexis
Alexis
2 years ago

Don’t for get these two emerg shelters for migrants.
https://nypost.com/2023/04/08/uws-residents-furious-as-city-quietly-opens-2-new-emergency-shelters/

52
Reply
Joshua
Joshua
2 years ago

How about the home for ex-convicts on 97 Street?

57
Reply
James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  Joshua

I’m not advocating for ex-convicts on 97 Street but I’m curious, Joshua, what is the right place for formerly incarcerated people to live?

4
Reply
Pri
Pri
2 years ago
Reply to  James

Someplace w remote outside of densely populated areas with expensive real estate. Police officers and teachers cannot afford nyc but homeless and convicts can?

14
Reply
Leon
Leon
2 years ago
Reply to  James

In the Dakotas. They have the lowest unemployment rates so clearly there are lots of jobs available. Last time I looked, all of those who devote their lives to helping these people keep saying that they all really want to return to a normal life and hold jobs. So they should go where there are jobs.

And since some portion of them have recidivist tendencies, they are less likely to do harm unto others or fall in with a bad crowd in those places. Plus they can be housed much more cheaply in those places than in one of the most expensive cities in America. I am happy to discuss if an individual has a compelling reason to stay in NYC. Many do not.

And yes, I am 100% serious. And yes, I bet this gets censored.

16
Reply
Jen
Jen
2 years ago
Reply to  James

Not next to a primary school

29
Reply
Born NY’er
Born NY’er
2 years ago
Reply to  James

On West 83 St. where a convicted murderer parolee was installed as a building staffer, and having been dismissed, returns with a fellow murderer parolee, who together proceeded to rape and murder an elderly woman? Those tenants were not even alerted to the employee’s background. But he was given ‘a second chance.’ Psychopaths are not capable of being reformed, and so they should not be blended with the general population, or civil society. Such a policy endangers innocent people.

41
Reply
Sunny
Sunny
2 years ago
Reply to  Joshua

On a street which already has 2 other shelters/SROs

44
Reply
James
James
2 years ago

Using the logic of the anti indigent crowd, if crime goes down during the quarter after the safe haven opens it’s because the residents there had a positive impact on the community.

6
Reply
mike
mike
2 years ago
Reply to  James

We are not anti-poor, many of us have been poor. We are against anti-social elements that pose threats to the community: drug addicts, alcoholics, mentally ill, former convicts. Also, if you were truly looking out for the poor, you’d be against housing them in one of the most expensive zip codes in the country, since for the same amount of money, you could provide 5x the amount of housing in say Staten Island where my folks live.

54
Reply
James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  mike

I didnt say poor, I said indigent, who you’ve just blanket-labeled substance abusing crazy criminals with no evidence, only stereotypes.

2
Reply
good humor
good humor
2 years ago
Reply to  James

The primary definition of indigent is poor.

18
Reply
NewYorkerUWS
NewYorkerUWS
2 years ago

How can progressive politicians say that the bail “reform” of several years ago has nothing to do with this? That’s you Gale Brewer, Linda Rosenthal and Brad Hoylman-Sigal.

46
Reply
Born NY’er
Born NY’er
2 years ago
Reply to  NewYorkerUWS

It doesn’t matter what they say, it matters what they do. And what they do is reckless.

23
Reply
James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  NewYorkerUWS

Show me a Gale Brewer statement or quote that says bail reform has nothing to do with crime on the UWS?

0
Reply
MJB
MJB
2 years ago
Reply to  James

Brad Hoylman is behind the actual bail reform. No quote needed.

27
Reply
Notfromhere
Notfromhere
2 years ago

How can a sensible and logical gov’t prioritize ILLEGAL immigrants over their own residents who are in need of housing is beyond me. How did NY decline to this point like a third world? I have not seen so many mentally ill, homeless, illegal migrants, criminals, etc. out and about in all neighborhoods in a metropolitan city… they are not confined to a few places but all over… And people keep voting for politicians who are ok with all of that. Something is wrong with this country and its citizens, sorry.

Last edited 2 years ago by Notfromhere
39
Reply
James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  Notfromhere

The 50,000 recently arrived migrants in NYC entered the USA legally…..

2
Reply
Jo Silverman.
Jo Silverman.
2 years ago
Reply to  James

The immigrants, many of which are here innegally need housing, pushing out those already living in lower-end housing those people then go looking for adequate housing. And so it goes, like a row of dominoes, all while the landlords’ meters keep running, and the city keeps wringing its hands.

3
Reply
MJB
MJB
2 years ago
Reply to  James

No, they didn’t. They entered illegally and got a TEMPORARY legal status while their asylum application is pending. Asylum can be granted only on cases of political persecution and life endangerment, not economic hardship.

36
Reply
James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  MJB

You’re wrong. They are here legally. Just straight up incorrect what you’re saying.. Fake news. Even if the asylum application is denied they are here legally in the meantime. WSRag why do you allow this?

2
Reply
MJB
MJB
2 years ago
Reply to  James

Did you just call my comment fake news? Why stop at this, calm it disinformation. That’s how the ultra left are trying to shut up people who don’t agree with then.

27
Reply
Born NY’er
Born NY’er
2 years ago
Reply to  James

No they did not. The government facilitated their illegal entry. The border states have been dealing with these incursions for years, and now NYC is. The cost in housing them will be drawn from services paid by the tax payer.

35
Reply
James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  Born NY’er

The government let them in legally. You may disagree with immigration policy but you don’t get to make up what the law is based on your opinion of it.

1
Reply
Born NY’er
Born NY’er
2 years ago
Reply to  James

There is no border enforcement. That is not allowing them in legally. It is abdicating responsibility for defending a country’s borders. No one is vetted. We do not know who is entering. There is a lucrative business with human and drug trafficking as a result.
In earlier decades, people needed to prove they were healthy—physically ( disease free ) and mentally, and could provide for themselves, as opposed to living off American citizens. If they did not meet those standards, they were deported.
You don’t get to make up immigration policy.
Try crossing the border of Mexico illegally. You’ll find yourself in prison.

35
Reply
Jo Silverman.
Jo Silverman.
2 years ago
Reply to  Born NY’er

That about sums it up.

2
Reply
An increase?
An increase?
2 years ago

Let’s have some perspective? The increases in the 20th precinct are all single digits for the raw number of incidents. You’re going from an EXTREMELY safe neighborhood to one that is slightly less safe. A rate of 26 felony assaults and 25 robberies for a neighborhood of 100k (let’s assume half the 200k of the UWS live in the 2-0) is LOW.

Even in the 2-4 – felony assaults up 4. Rapes up 3. Murder is up 2. Robbery DOWN eight. Major increase in the neighborhoods are grand larceny/car thefts. Those are property crimes.

By and large, this neighborhood is safe. Look at similar numbers in Crown Heights, East Harlem, Jackson Heights, the Lower East Side, right up the road in Harlem….Get some perspective and to the WSR writers, learn to put crime in per capita context for public safety reporting. It’s what law enforcement themself do when looking at “problem neighborhoods.”

6
Reply
Born NY’er
Born NY’er
2 years ago
Reply to  An increase?

I choose not to normalize the rise in crime NYC is experiencing, and it frankly offends me when people do so. People should not have to live this way. I don’t recall women being randomly punched, slapped, heads banged against a tree, before 2020. Whether or not these scenarios are reflected in the numbers is immaterial to me, as long as this is what it is possible to encounter day to day.

43
Reply
An increase?
An increase?
2 years ago
Reply to  Born NY’er

Your “increase” is incremental. Look at the 10/20 year trends. We are well within that range. Anecdotal recall is a classic mcguffin used to create perception.

You know what else you can encounter on the day to day? Absolutely none of this. And that’s what stats show most west siders experience. There are real issues out there for public safety, i.e. VEHICLE TRAFFIC, which injures dozens more people on the West Side every year compared to actual felony or misdemeanor assaults. Maybe address the pressing public safety issues rather than vague fears?

2
Reply
Lisa
Lisa
2 years ago
Reply to  An increase?

to an increase:
everyone in my family has been hit by bicyclists . our doctor in rehab for weeks after a Citibike hit. incredible so many bicyclists go the wrong way,/go through red lights/ignore bike lanes.
increase in biking is a hazard for pedestrians

14
Reply
Harry Langdon
Harry Langdon
2 years ago

It’s plain selfish to put the supposed needs of the upper classes over those of the homeless.

2
Reply
Pri
Pri
2 years ago
Reply to  Harry Langdon

It’s actually
Practical since the taxes of these people
Are footing the bill of these ex convicts and addicts who made poor life choices and are a burden to society. At least make them pick up the trash they leave around.

9
Reply
good humor
good humor
2 years ago
Reply to  Harry Langdon

What needs, specifically?

13
Reply
Dana
Dana
2 years ago
Reply to  good humor

Apparently the need of children walking to and from school safely. It is now a privilege.

10
Reply
mike
mike
2 years ago
Reply to  Harry Langdon

Why? If upper classes leave NYC tomorrow, the city will have no money for police, fire, garbage, schools etc! Who do you think pay the taxes? The homeless? They take $3bn from the city budget a year!

26
Reply
BrianV
BrianV
2 years ago

I know everything is made political nowadays, but this truly is political . . .
we are reaping the rewards of the last election.

16
Reply
MJB
MJB
2 years ago
Reply to  BrianV

I doubt most locals are willing to think about it. They would be attacking police, etc. even though some of them were very anti-police when the wind was blowing that way.

10
Reply
Marc
Marc
2 years ago

It’s these young punks , who live at home, committing most of these crime. Their parent is afraid of them and they just run wild. The police need to crack down !

1
Reply
Alexfromvenus
Alexfromvenus
2 years ago

I can’t believe your wife let you publish this article lol

2
Reply
Frustrated UWS
Frustrated UWS
2 years ago

Do you think Gale Brewer will respond and sound any concern? Think again.

9
Reply

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