NYPD Reports Increase in Gun Arrests and Burglaries in October

By Yehudit Garmaise

No, it does not just seem that way: crime really is increasing, statistics from the New York Police Department’s monthly report reveal.

   In October, the NYPD reports that gun arrests have increased in every borough. In fact, while the police arrested 248 people with guns in September, that number doubled this month when 502 people with guns were arrested.

 While in September the city saw 62 shooting incidents, in October, unfortunately, 137 shooting incidents occurred.

   In September, 1,031 burglaries took place, but that number jumped to 1,363 burglaries that took place last month. Many more cars were stolen as well. While 522 cars were stolen in September, a shocking 933 cars were stolen in New York City in October.

   Thankfully, the police did report drops in murders, rapes, and hate crimes throughout the city. While 36 murders were committed in September, in October, that number dropped to 35. Although rape is a crime that, unfortunately, continues to be underreported, the NYPD saw a decrease in the incidence of rapes from September, when 154 rapes were reported, to October, when that number dropped to 127. 

  Citywide hate crimes, thankfully, declined in October, dropping from 359 episodes in September to 237 hate crimes committed in October, which makes for  a 34% reduction.  

   The NYPD says that it is responding “to crime spikes by gathering timely intelligence and analyzing crime trends.”

    In addition, a new class of recruits has started its training at NYPD Police Academy: the first to be trained since 530 new police officers joined the department in January.

   Also a week ago, Police Commissioner Shea hired 900 new police officers to replace the many police who have retired of late. Another struggle the NYPD has faced this year has been the $1 billion Mayor Bill de Blasio cut in June from the police department’s $6 billion, as he responded calls to defund the police after the murder on George Floyd on May 25. 

   “Our tireless men and women officers are here to serve New Yorkers and keep everyone across all neighborhoods safe,” said Police Commissioner Dermot Shea. “We will continue to be relentless in our mission to ensure public safety by working hand-in-hand with those we are sworn to serve and to deliver fair and exceptional police services.”