Robberies surge 5.6 percent in NYC in last month with a 350 percent increase in Central Park: ‘Free for all’

Tina Moore
·3 min read
Most major crimes in the city are down, including shootings and murders, but robberies have increased across the city so far this year, police data show.
Most major crimes in the city are down, including shootings and murders, but robberies have increased across the city so far this year, police data show.

Robberies in New York City are surging, police data show.

While most major crimes are down, including shootings and murders, robberies shot up 5.6% so far in 2024 over the same period in 2023 — to 5,522 from 5,228 as of May 5.

Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant and adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, pointed out that robberies have a low arrest rate — with only about 25% of cases solved because victims typically don’t know their attackers.

Robberies shot up 5.6% so far in 2024 over the same period in 2023 — to 5,522 from 5,228 as of May 5. Christopher Sadowski
Robberies shot up 5.6% so far in 2024 over the same period in 2023 — to 5,522 from 5,228 as of May 5. Christopher Sadowski
Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant, pointed out that robberies have a low arrest rate — with only about 25% of cases solved. policinginsight
Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant, pointed out that robberies have a low arrest rate — with only about 25% of cases solved. policinginsight

“Being up in robberies shouldn’t be a big surprise to anyone who knows what’s actually going on,” he said. “Robbery is a crime where most people can’t identify their attacker and then district attorneys are releasing these people. It becomes a free for all.”

April saw a spate of robberies in Central Park, three in just 27 hours, contributing to a 350% increase there — from 4 to 18 as of May 5, the most recent data available show.

Robberies surged by nearly 50% in the NYPD’s tourist-heavy Midtown North Precinct, to 67 from 45 so far year-to-date.

In one Midtown robbery, a newsstand owner was bashed in the head on Feb. 24 by a threesome who snatched lottery tickets and cash before taking off.

The masked men stormed inside Abdul Hossain’s newsstand at West 54th Street and 6th Avenue around 2:30 p.m. and unloaded punches on the 67-year-old vendor.

The masked men stormed inside Abdul Hossain’s newsstand at West 54th Street and 6th Avenue and unloaded punches on the 67-year-old vendor. Robert Miller
The masked men stormed inside Abdul Hossain’s newsstand at West 54th Street and 6th Avenue and unloaded punches on the 67-year-old vendor. Robert Miller
“I was eating my lunch when they came in and just started punching me,” Hossain told The Post. “They punched me in the head over and over.” Robert Miller
“I was eating my lunch when they came in and just started punching me,” Hossain told The Post. “They punched me in the head over and over.” Robert Miller
April saw a spate of robberies in Central Park, three in just 27 hours, contributing to a 350% increase. James Messerschmidt
April saw a spate of robberies in Central Park, three in just 27 hours, contributing to a 350% increase. James Messerschmidt

“I was eating my lunch when they came in and just started punching me,” Hossain told The Post. “They punched me in the head over and over.”

In Brooklyn, three robbers attacked a 67-year-old man in a subway station in the 66th Precinct around 1:30 a.m. May 3, police said.

The victim was the mezzanine level of the Ditmas Avenue station on the “F” line when two of the attackers punched him in the face and forcibly took his MetroCard and cell phone.

Robbery in the precinct is up from 28 to 39, or 39.3%, so far this year over last, the data show.