NYC crime bump

You’re not wrong if you think New York is becoming less safe. Violent crime is up in New York City, while it’s trending downward in the rest of the state.

Crimes like murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault are all on the rise this year compared to the same period in 2009. Meanwhile, the rest of New York state is seeing less robberies, rapes and assaults, according to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.

Murder, however, increased 11.5 percent statewide.

Experts say it’s difficult to explain the trend. “I don’t think anybody knows for sure,” said Richard Aborn, president of the N.Y. Citizens Crime Commission, a police and crime watchdog group. “We live in very unstable times. I don’t think someone who lost their job is going to turn to crime, but … a prolonged downturn can be very destabilizing.”

The NYPD’s ranks have also shrunk in recent years, which may also contribute to the crime spike, said Aborn.

Others suggest the NYPD may be a victim of its own success: Last year’s 471 murders was a 45-year-low for the police department, said Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Browne.

“While murder has increased 15 percent compared to last year, it is still 17 percent lower compared to 2001, and 73 percent lower compared to 1993,” said Browne. Most murderers, and most murder victims, have prior criminal records and they tend to know one another, he added.

Violent crime by the numbers

Rape
Per Week (avg.): More than 17
Per Day (avg.): More than 2

Robbery
Per Week (Avg): 343
Per Day (Avg.): 49

Murder
Per Week (avg.): Nearly 9
Per Day (avg.): More than 1

Aggravated assault
Per Week (avg.): 521
Per Day (avg.): More than 74

In the five boroughs:

Violent crime overall:
Jan-Jun. 2009: 21,672
Jan-Jun. 2010: 23,152
6.8% increase

» Murder: Jan.-June
2009: 204
2010: 229
12.3% increase

» Rape:
2009: 403
2010: 459
13.9% increase

» Robbery:
2009: 8,611
2010: 8,918
3.6% increase

» Aggravated assault:
2009: 12,454
2010: 13,546
8.8% increase

» Burglary:
2009: 8,142
2010: 8,318
2.2% increase