Is Times Square Safe?

Is Times Square safe? Safety is a topic on everyone’s minds these days. When one reads the news, it seems stories of rising crime, especially in New York City, are everywhere. It also doesn’t help that any city’s scariest headlines make the best clickbait. But, are those scary stories about NYC crime merely clickbait, or is Times Square actually dangerous? Let’s explore the cold hard facts about safety in Times Square.

What is Crime?

The NYPD classifies crime data into four main groups on its website.These groups are: “Seven Major Felony Offenses,” “Non-Seven Major Felony Offenses,” “Misdemeanor Offenses,” and “Violation Offenses.” When most people think of “crime” they are specifically thinking of the “Seven Major Felony Offenses” which are murder, rape, robbery, felony assault, burglary, grand larceny, and grand larceny of a motor vehicle. People seemed more scared of this than someone giving a NYC Central Park tour without a sightseeing license.

The NYC.gov website gives comprehensive crime stats dating back decades. We will examine the data of the past 25 years to notice trends and determine whether or not Times Square is safe.

Is Crime on the Rise in NYC

Great news if you are considering visiting NYC in the near future: Crime in NYC is NOT on the rise. In fact, it has been on a steady decline since the 1980s! In 2000, there were 673 incidents of murder. In 2024, there were 382! Over the past 25 years, according to NYPD data, murders were nearly cut in half! In fact, all seven major felony offenses declined between 2000 and 2024! According to the NYPD, there were 184,652 major felony offenses in 2000 and 123,890 in 2024.

Even when it comes to the more minor offenses, crime is on the decline. There were 109,148 violation offenses in 2000 and 88,812 in 2024. This means less vendors are selling without licenses and less people are biting other humans on the elevators. (Did you know that every year there are more reports of “human bites on NYC elevators” than shark bites across the entire planet?)

Of course, any major felony offense is an offense too many. It would be foolish to tell you that no crime happens in New York City. But it is important to know crime in NYC is not on the rise.

Where is Crime Taking Place in NYC?

New York City has 77 police precincts. Most of the crime in New York City takes place in just six of those precincts. As a tourist, odds are you won’t be traveling anywhere near those precincts. For example, the most dangerous police precinct in NYC by statistics is the 46th precinct in The Bronx. The closest most tourists will get is if they visit the famed Arthur Avenue, the most authentic Little Italy in NYC. Arthur Avenue is one of those New York City hidden gems that locals love and tourists rarely venture. It’s also very far from Times Square.

Why is Times Square Crime in the Headlines?

One of the easiest answers to why Times Square crime is in the headlines is that most newspapers and news outlets have studios in or around Times Square. If something happens, it’s really easy to send a crew out to cover it. The eyes of the world are on Times Square. (It’s one of the reasons having your photo on a Times Square billboard is such a big deal!)

In the Midtown South Precinct, the NYPD precinct that covers Times Square, there has only been one murder this year to date. Of course that’s one too many, but less than the news might have you think. From 1990, crimes in Times Square are down 85%! Most of the crime committed is petty theft. So you should feel l relatively very safe in Times Square. Additionally, the NYPD is always working hard to make it even safer.

How to Stay Safe in Times Square

Even though Times Square is fairly safe, it’s always good to be aware of your surroundings. Keep your bags and wallets close to you and safely secured. Don’t look down too much and lose track of what’s going on around you by being on your phone. If someone approaches you and tries to hand you something, say no. Stay alert and stay safe.

Of course, while you’re in TImes Square, you’ll want to appear on a billboard! Thanks to Welcome to Times Square, you can appear on a Times Square billboard for a full day for just $150! Check out our website to learn more.