NYC Crime Hits Historic Lows Through First Nine Months of 2026, Though Hate Crimes Rise

The NYPD released third-quarter crime statistics showing that New York City continues to set historic safety records while flagging a troubling rise in hate crimes. From January 1 through September 30, overall index crime fell 6.6 per cent compared to the same period last year, with murders down 19.8 per cent — from 253 to 203. The third quarter alone saw major crime drop 9.4 per cent year over year, driven by a 19.8 per cent fall in murders, from 91 to 73. The first nine months of the year and the third quarter both recorded the fewest shooting incidents, shooting victims, and murders ever documented for those periods. Shooting incidents were down 22.7 per cent in the third quarter and 11.6 per cent year to date. Transit crime fell 3 per cent in the third quarter and 0.9 per cent year to date. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch credited a "precision policing strategy," while Mayor Zohran Mamdani noted that September alone set record lows for shooting incidents and victims. However, hate crimes rose 12.6 per cent in the third quarter and 12.9 per cent year to date. Anti-Jewish hate crimes accounted for 52.9 per cent of confirmed hate crimes from January through September, while anti-Muslim and anti-sexual orientation hate crimes also increased compared to the same period last year.