In May, Brooklyn experienced a notable decrease in crime, with major felonies down more than 7% compared to the same period last year, according to the latest NYPD data. This aligns with a citywide trend where officials celebrated a significant drop in murders and shootings over the first five months of the year. Specifically, incidents of murder, rape, robbery, felony assault, burglary, grand larceny, and grand larceny auto totaled 2,324, a reduction from 2,517 in the same timeframe in 2024.
The reduction in violent crime is particularly striking, as Brooklyn recorded a 66% drop in murders, with three reported in May, compared to nine the previous year. Shootings also fell by 45%, decreasing from 33 to 18 incidents.
Most of this decline was seen in the Brooklyn North patrol area, which encompasses 10 precincts. There, shootings dropped significantly, from 26 to just 10, a decline of over 61.5%. However, Brooklyn South, which includes 13 precincts, reported a 14.3% increase in shootings, from seven to eight incidents.
This overall decrease is attributed to a long-term effort by the NYPD to remove illegal firearms from the streets and the implementation of the Summer Violence Reduction Plan on May 5. This plan included the deployment of more than 1,500 officers to high-crime areas, known as “summer deployment zones.” According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, these steps were crucial in maintaining the progress towards safer communities.
Despite these encouraging statistics, the borough did experience various violent incidents, including three triple shootings over one weekend that left five injured and one dead. Other specific cases, such as a critical shooting in Crown Heights and an incident at Breevort Houses, highlighted that while overall crime may be down, challenges remain.
While some precincts reported increases in specific crimes such as assault and rape—with a year-over-year rise in Brooklyn North by nearly 30%—there were overall declines in rates of other sexual crimes across the board. Additionally, transit crime saw a slight uptick in Brooklyn North, with particular incidents drawing attention, including stabbings on MTA buses.
Overall, while crime rates show promising reductions, the ongoing focus of law enforcement on community safety is crucial in addressing areas of concern and ensuring residents feel secure. The city’s commitment to aggressive strategies during the summer months serves to bolster these advancements in public safety.