Is New York a safe city?

Some of you fear for your own safety and ask me if New York is a safe city,
If you live in London, Los Angeles, Sydney… you are used to living in a big city. Now if you live in a smaller city, I fully understand your concerns.
But do not worry, New York is now a very safe city.

Crime/history of New York

In the 70s and 80s, New York had one of the highest crime rates in the United States caused by multiple “gangs” and the presence of five Italian and Irish mafia families. Also at this time, the public services of the city of New York were bankrupt, and some neighborhoods seemed completely abandoned (Bronx, Brooklyn, Harlem …).
But from 1993, Rodolph Giuliani (mayor of NY at the time), “cleaned” the city. He launched an enforcement policy to stop drug trafficking and to combat organized crime. It started to make the Metro safer, fighting fraud for example. The NYPD was reorganized and focused on repression. It was a very strict policy, contested at that time, but produced immediate results.
Manhattan and Harlem became more secure, they had nothing to do with what we watched in the movies of the 70’s;)
NYC is much safer, you can go around 24/7 without any problems, whether your in the street or in the subway.

What are the neighborhoods in New York that you can safely go around?

You may wander the streets of Manhattan and Harlem at any time.
Many people tend to think that Harlem is dangerous, but no, not any longer. I’ve been there during the day and at night, and I’ve never had any problems. 100% SAFE 😀
For Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx, there are not many security problems either. Well, in some of the places far away from Brooklyn or the Bronx you must be a little bit more careful, especially at night. But it’s no worse than some areas of London, Los Angeles or Brussels…

Can you go out alone at night or with your girl friends in New York without any security problems?

Yes, that is not a problem. You can wander the streets, get on the subway, taxi … and you will feel safe.

Are there any pickpocket’s in the streets of New York?

Yes there are, as in any big city. But honestly, I think there are far fewer thieves in New York than in Paris or Rome. Since this blog was created only one person told me that he was mugged in the street, And there are many tourists in NY!
You must also take precautions. Don’t show off your dollars in the street in front of everyone, take care of your belongings (backpack, camera, phone, …) or you could draw the attention of troublemakers.

Conclusion: New York is a safe city

Do you feel better? I Hope that I have helped to convince you that New York is a safe city, where you can go out alone, with your family or friends without stressing out about your security.