Most dangerous parts of New York?
In my area (Brooklyn) I'd say Bedford and I always avoid most of the Bronx these days.
94 Comments
Ive had some scary moments in the Lower East side, usually at night. It all comes down to how well you look like you fit in. You can get mugged around Washington Square if you have a nice watch on!
Harlem. I was bashed walking to friends place a few years back. Not a very nice experience.
East Harlem's generally scarier than West Harlem. Manhattan Avenue uptown is pretty creepy.
Below Delancey on the east side isn't really where I'd want to walk around at night.
I was recently downtown very late at night in the civic center, around the courthouse, and it was so deserted that I found it unsettling. Plus you could see a van parked from which people were being handed free meals. I think that area is a big hangout for the homeless after dark.
I agree with Uraniumfish, East Harlem is a quite scary. One of my favorite restaurants Moustache has an outpost there and I always avoid its East Harlem location at nights even though its only a couple of stops away from where I am located by subway.
No doubt. To me the worst neighborhoods are the Bronx and Harlem. I used to live in the Bronx and got attacked twice. So I would not recommend going there.
I got punched in the face for no reason when I was in tenth grade back in 2005. These group of punks came out of no where and started talking smack to me and my friends and one of the kids said, "FUCK THIS" and sucker punched me in the face. This was in broad daylight too, around 120th and broadway.
Have you had any instances like that since then? I hope such attacks doesn't become a trend.
I haven't been to Harlem since, mainly because I live in Brooklyn, but stuff can happen like that around neighborhoods, such as Harlem, especially if there is a public school near and if it's around the time when public school ends. Kids just kind of want to start fights, or maybe it's part of gang initiations, and aren't afraid to just go up to a random stranger and start a fight. I'm pretty good at avoiding these kinds of situations, but these kids came out of no where. I'm not a coward, but I was kind of afraid these kids were gonna pull a razor blade or knife if I fought back.
Do you live in the area? what were you doing there jaged?
How old is your boy? Maybe your son should think about moving out of that neighborhood, if it is that dangerous.
Haha, when I say my "boy's" house I mean one of my good friend's house. He is not literally my boy, like my son lol. My friend has lived in Harlem his whole life and said he doesn't have too many confrontations, but he is black so that may something to do with it. I'm white so that may be why I clocked.
Yeah, sounds like a case of boys trying to play rough and show off to their friends.
Harlem? I thought that since gentrification Harlem was a lot, lot safer/more "middle class" than before.
Any bets that @checkRZ is a troll?
I say the South Bronx is the worst. Even though it has gotten better compared to how it was back in the 70's and early 80's. Other than that, the South Bronx still has some very bad areas. It still needs to be cleaned up and stuff.
I live in E Harlem. Well, 103rd and Lex. I love it here. I've been here for a few months now and I love it. It's different from upper W side, Manhattan, but it's not bad at all. Harlem used to be bad in the 70's and 80's but now it's actually kind of boring how much less dangerous its reputation has gotten. Everyone has this preconceived notion of Harlem but it's not bad at all. At least around here. I used to cop drugs above 150th st. It was kinda shady LOOKING around there but...
Which neighborhoods are the best for living in Manhattan? I'm doing this data analysis project, and I am expected to compare to cities in Manhattan. But I live in Michigan and I don't have personal knowledge about New York and its neighborhoods. I wish I did.. it would make this easier for me. I appreciate everyone's help.
I have only had a run in once about 2 years ago on the subway near Greenwich Village. Almost got mugged, but scarred the asshole off.
most people don't realise this but NY has quite low crime
here's a good wikipedia entry on crime in new york:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_New_York_City
East Harlem for sure. Anything past 96th Street is considered high crime areas. 125 and Lex couldn't be any scarier.. too many housing projects on that side compared to West Harlem.. Washington Heights and Inwood is much safer than East Harlem and el Barrio. Central and West Harlem is coming up but the local pop. isn't too happy about gentrification. Brooklyn is considered a lot more dangerous than the Bronx in crime statistics. Brooklyn has much more beautiful and gentrified neighborhoods than the Bronx. the Bronx is still the poorest borough and county in NYC n NY. There is a surge in middle to upper middle class families in the Yankee Stadium area. Anything around JFK airport..(Jamaica, South Jamaica, East New York, Canarsie) is dangerous. but NEW YORK CITY is the safest city in the USA.
39 murders in harlem in 2010 ? I am from Liverpool England ,a city of 500,000 where there has only been two murders in 20 years both of them made headlines in the press as it is most unusual ,but my country does not have gun laws like America I guess that is why there were only two murders I can walk anywhere there day & night & know I am completely safe
JamesK2, I hope you realize that most gun crimes committed in the US are with illegally acquired firearms. Plus NYC has very strict gun laws, so I'm willing to bet any gun used in a crime there is either stollen or bought on the street, so the laws are irrelevant.
Gun laws are also irrelevant if the mugger has a knife...
Just know where you are going. Being safe in NYC doesn't have to do with what time of the day you will do your activities. Things in NYC can happen at ANY TIME. A good neighbor of mine got shot dead looking for directions in East New York Brooklyn. He was lost and asked some kids in a corner for directions and instead a 14 year old gave him a bullet. BE SAFE !
And Goldeil: You are absolutely correct in regards to Jamaica South Jamaica etc. I live in Jamaica, and yes the freaks come out at night? Not in Jamaica, the freaks are ALL day up and down the streets. Crazy loonies on Jamaica ave and Hillside ave. Lots of stabbings robberies everything lol.
I used to live in Morningsode Heights. Sometimes the subway was sketchy, depending on the time of day (close to Harlem). I used to have issues walking up Broadway from 103rd in the dark, as a young female walking alone. If anything felt "off" I'd just head over to the Hudson and have a nice jog home. People exercising aren't usually bothered, pro tip.
kates3 move to London .you are safe there .
I would not venture in to central park at night because I know what would happen to me .I can walk through hyde park in London anytime & know I am safe .I can ride the tube [ subway ] any time knowing I am safe ,I can walk in any part of London knowing I am safe .London has the same population as new York a big park like new York & a similar subway but what a difference in safety but of course nobody carries guns in England not even the police. we do not have a constitution or 2nd amendment that states we can. we have laws that say we can't. no wonder we do not have the crime rate the u s has
James you're talking out of your nonsense mate. Try walking around Peckham, Bixton, Edmonton, Hackney & Tottenham and then tell me London is safe. And you say nobody carries guns in England?? A police officer was shot in London yesterday by a gang member. The police officer was also carrying a firearm so not sure where you get your information from re: they don't carry weapons because they do!
I personally felt a lot safer in NY than i did in London!
I am not saying we have a crime free country but I would feel a lot safer walking in brixton than harlem . the areas you mentioned all have a large black population & while I am not racist it is common knowledge black people commit more crime than whites .my argument is the u k has a very small crime rate compared to the u s a .ride the London tube at night & you are safe .try the new York subway late at night & see what happens .I now live in Sydney .been here fifteen years . & been back to the u k three times .I lived in Peckham for ten years & felt safe even in the areas you mentioned .you say you are safer in new York? try the subway late at night or harlem or the Bronx.i have been to the u s & there are areas in new York Detroit & Chicago I would never venture in to . I have English friends who were mugged in new York & said they would never go back .as far as know most bobbies still do not carry guns unless the law has been changed since I have been gone
Please ignore the comments of the idiot above with his racist and out of date comments, he's living in Australia for goodness sake! From my experience, having lived in London and Paris and visited NYC and Tokyo on a regular basis, all cities have their 'danger spots', usually places where people hang around on streets and where gangs and drugs etc get their hold. These are 'no-go' areas in any city and are usually residential and so not a danger to tourists. Also common sense plays the same role - never go down dark alleys, parks at night, dark deserted streets, empty train carriages at night etc. Apart from that, danger can appear anywhere and at any time - looking at someone the 'wrong way'', showing too much 'bling' in crowded areas. This is the same in any city. I've always found it helps to follow basic common sense rules and always plan where you are going. Some police in the UK DO carry guns although only on certain occasions such as gun crime, big events where such protection is needed and also nowadays at airports etc for obvious security reasons. Crime is not always gun-related. We've all got access to kitchen knives, right??? Common sense, guys!
I had a scary moment on the east side of broadway and 100th street walking to a music lesson. A drug gang came up to me and threatened to hit my violin. I think this is because there are housing projects right near there. Also homeless shelters etc. It was about 4:20 PM
want to know whats the spookiest and baddest if you got the balls Try to go to hunts point in the bronx 1 am all hookers pimps drug addicts in the streets grafitti everywhere people walkaround with the faces all melted - you go there youll hear count dracula laughing or gargamell from the smurfs all this post is all twinkle toes compared to this even go to 1 ave and 24 street brooklyn - anyway forget the neiborhood find out what street in the five boroughs and what crazy building to go to .
DebzD I am not a racist & my comments are not out of date .what I am saying is London is far safer than new York .the crime statistics prove that of course London has crime but not like new York but I agree with you when you say it is best to avoid certain areas I would feel much safer in swiss cottage than brixton .
Just a quick up date for JamesK2. Yes you are out of date. Whilst obviously NY has a higher crime rate than a city such as Liverpool, 2 murders in 20 years? Not entirely sure what Liverpool you must be talking about. Crime statistics for Liverpool for 2014 from Merseyside police. 97 350 reported crimes of which 21 were homicides.
Living in Liverpool myself I already know of at least 4 murders in the city so far this year, unlike your statement that crimes are race related these have primarily been drugs gang relted. Check your facts before making misleading statements
I'm a cop worked in the 67 pct in impact (operation that used to be handed out to all rookies out of the academy) our impact zone was the border of brownsville/east flatbush basically 'gang land' of the five boroughs, our precinct was in the lead in shootings that last year I was still there, mainly from the impact zone rockaway in the East 90's where kings highway meets brownsville, the time I was there Ive seen more dead bodies and heard more gun shots than most officers in my current comand.
to davidyi .the years I mean are from 1970 to 1990 .there were two recorded murders to my knowledge since then I do not know
to gazS you are a cop in new York what do you expect .go for a holiday in England & go on patrol with a London bobby & see the difference
another comment gazS .some people using this column have implied nyc is safer than London I think your comment proves the opposite
elise .come & live here in oz .you are safe everywhere .
elise .the worst crime here is graffiti .it is worse than nyc .four & a half million people here in Sydney & that is the worst crime criminals here would rather deface property than people .
yes angie new York is a wonderful city & I feel sorry for gaz5 .imagine London police having to put up with what he has to. they would leave the force in droves .
Sorry to burst your bubble james but i grew up in Sydney so maybe a walk through greenpark and central at night or perhaps redfern ,earlwood or the riverwood estates, bankstown merrylands ect ect ect you need to get out more.
Seriously im traveling to NY soon and most of my mates reckon people usually cross the street to avoid me so common sense and a clear understanding of where I'm going should be enough same as we should do everywere
i live in merrylands & I am quite safe here .as for redfern the place is full of beggars not muggers I also visit earlwood & green park in my job & the only thing I have to worry about there are the speed cameras .you say you are going to new York so as you say a clear understanding of where you go is needed
take a taxi
in new York they are yellow
if you cant get a taxi take take the subway but not late at night
nyc has everything
you mean tinted
go and live in a hotel then
ericD I have not lived in Peckham for 15 years I do not know what it is like now apart from having about two pubs left open .as a matter of interest where do you live ?
40 year old white guy from NY. Went to Fordham U (Bronx), lived in Bensonhurst(Brooklyn), Rego Park/Forest Hills(Queens), worked in Manhattan (10 different locations) since 1999 (17 years). I know everything about every borough but Staten Island...which nobody visits anyways. PLACES I WOULD FEAR FOR MY LIFE IN DAYTIME: BROOKLYN - Brownsville, East New York, Bushwick, BRONX - South Bronx, and many pockets in many neighborhoods. QUEENS - Jamaica at night. ( Queens is my favorite borough with the gem being Forest Hills. MANHATTAN - East Harlem, many pockets north of Central Park to GW Bridge. Lower East Side by FDR is sketchy at night. However as of 2016 the rule for midtown MANHATTAN is anywhere East of 8th Ave. At night in midtown it gets sketchy between Penn and Times Square and between Penn and 23rd Street. Lots of daytime drug dealers and shady people on Broadway at all time between 24-32 st
To add....I have lived and worked in NYC my entire 40 years. I have never ever gotten mugged, robbed, or felt truly scared by a situation or place outside of having 2 planes slam into buildings directly above my head and had anthrax delivered to our mail room where we were quarantined for 5 hours. I love NY. I feel super safe because I know my surroundings, I never look strangers on the street or subway in the eye, I wear ear buds even when I'm not listening to music to ignore the heroine addictS which have unfortunately plagued the city. To be honest the only part of the city I worry about is Penn Station and when my train is under the East River, because we know it's just a matter of time before we here those 2 most feared words in a crowded place.... Allah Akbur. Unfortunately terrorism is the only fear these days in NYC
rgi you are a sensible guy .you know the areas to avoid & what times .the trouble is strangers or tourists don't
https://maps.nyc.gov/crime/ here is the crime rate map. Pretty self explanatory.
goodbye all
dj 7.35 Areno Apenzias vs I Seas
I am visiting NY with my family from Europe. We found nice apartments in East Harlem near subway E116th street, but as I found in your comments this area is very dangerous. Is it? How we should moving around this place in evening time? Should we use subway or better buses going there? Is any time specifically dangerous? What we should avoid?
Maybe some questions seems stupid, but I started to be concerned about safety of my family.
Just avoid scrolling the area in the late evening that's it
New York can be a scary place period. It's a big city with way too many things happening at once. I've lived in East Harlem my whole life. Harlem isn't dangerous. Crimes happen just like everywhere else. If you have been a person who has had that encounter, I'm sorry. As a white woman, I can walk down the street any time of the day. People are friendly. Harlem has been gentrified which may not necessarily be a good thing, but it has. North of 96th street doesn't mean you've entered a danger zone. As for 125th, it's thriving by day. At night it's not as dangerous as one may think. Just walk down the street. No one is actually looking at you or worried about what you do.
When I was young, I lived in the projects too. The projects I grew up on is on Park avenue up in East Harlem. Just because it's the projects doesn't mean bad things happen. In fact, at 26 years old, I'd let my daughter hang out with her friends because I know nothing would happen to her. Make friends with your neighbors. Be friendly. Don't be uptight or paranoid because you see someone who isn't white. Chances are that person that you've made assumptions about is going to be the one who is friendlier that your own.
Brooklyn is now a walk in the park due to gentrification.. except for a few areas like Brownsville, d 90s, and parts of ENY. Harlem isnt dangerous at all due to gentrification.. Bronx lately been having a lot of crime on the rise ... n I have lived here for over 13 consecutive years now. Oh and I'm white in my area saying this.
Jeez, you guys sound REAL IGNORANT: Avoid this, avoid that.. I'VE LIVED in Harlem for 2 years now, and it is PERFECTLY SAFE..I feel more threatened when I lived in the NJ suburbs.. late at night in some wooded areas, NOW THAT'S SCARY. Yes there may be a few knuckle heads here and there, BUT the WHOLE city is like that.. And it has greatly improved since I moved-cleaner streets, less garbage , cleaner parks- TONS of cops everywhere.. And lots of very nice restaurants and bars.. They are building lots of NEW CONSTRUCTION too- so its NOT the same.. In fact, the UWS has MORE shady areas than where I live in SOUTH HARLEM..
I walk dogs, so I've been to and seen different parts of the boroughs. Never had a problem in Harlem or the Bronx (like I'm in East Tremont and Fordham area a lot due to friends) and I'm saying this as a petite, very pale, white girl. If you mind your business, you won't have a problem. It's like most neighborhoods; if you pick a fight with someone or look like you're afraid of everything, you'll have a harder time fitting in. Only parts of NY I won't go to are far East Brooklyn, Crown Heights, Astoria, and Chinatown/SoHo Area (my dad almost got mugged out in daylight, and he's originally from Flatbush. Personally, I can't stand the crazy crowds). All for personal reasons rather than safety (except I've always felt uneasy in East NY/Brownsville but to each their own).
Is 116 Lexington area safe at night? I should use it for my commute and I tend to come back from work around 8. Also i have to wear suit and tie and i am pale white...That's my only worry, for the rest I found a great apartment btw 119 and 120 5th avenue and i would like to move in with family.
I’m spending the summer near 1516 Rosedale Ave the Bronx. How safe is it?
East Harlem
East 118th Street
Between Park and
Madison
Anyone?
My great grandmother use to live in the Bronx until her death in 1987 she was born in 1898. I always remembered her birthday was 2 years older than the current year. God rest her sweet dear heart. She lived on a street called Turnbell Ave or turnball . Does that sound familiar to anyone? I’m wondering what section of the Bronks it was? I was like 13 and white and myself and my girlfriend where looking for weed. They called it cheeba and told me to go to a meat market and ask for so and so. I did it and got a fat dime in a yellow small envelope that was in 1978. It seemed pretty safe for me at that time but as a teenager we were always fearless until something horrific happened! Fortunately it didn’t and I miss my dear double GG grandmother! And sorry I was a outta control teenager I was in my own at 15. But somehow got my GED and started community college in January of what would have been my junior year. I always looked for the shortcuts but regret it bc Although I went to 2 proms I never went to my own prom and my life would have taken a whole different turn. Instead I was with a 22year old man at 15 who looking back was a predator but u couldn’t tell me that I was in love. LIKE THE TAYLOR SWIFT SONG “WHEN YOU ARE 15& SOMEONE TELLS YOU THEY LOVE YOU, YOU BELIEVE THEM”. With age comes wisdom and I grew outta him at 18. But I really just want to know if anyone knows of a street named Turnbull or Turnbal Ave in the Bronks?? Anyone??
A week after her death ppl were offering 100.000 cash for her home it was beautiful with a long stairway that was solid wood and curved at the end. It had 3 nice size bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs. A huge living room dining room combo with a eat in kitchen as well. I couldn’t believe how much they were offering to buy this place in actually it was 1988 not 87 bc she got to meet my daughter her Great Great Great first GGG GRANDCHILD and we always regretted not getting the picture of 5 generations (that’s very rare). Been kicking myself ever since. She had a dog for a companion and he was trained for her to protect and serve her. She fell down the flight of stairs to the basement doing laundry and they told her she would never go home. She was very independent and she passed 2 weeks later bc she gave up. Why couldn’t her granddaughter say once your hip heals your going back home? I know she wasn’t ready to die but take away her freedom to choose what is best for her she just gave up and I’ll never forget her last words! “Don’t ever give your power away I assume P.O.A. And u can decide where you want to be ur final resting spot and mine was MY HOME GOD DAMN HER! And she was well aware of that and she had enough money to pay for a nurse to come at least half of the day. I know she was never going to get back up the steps to her bedroom or do anymore laundry but she could live downstairs with a 1/2 bathroom off the kitchen and fenced in backyard for the dog a Labrador she loved him dearly and they become ur family like my dying German Shepherd is to me! Sad story but she taught me a lot bc she had lived it all and I was blessed to hear all her stories and jokes. Example a wool skirt she would say that attracts everything but men & money. That was a riot and too many more to mention! All my Love Forever, She wasn’t rich but never forgot Christmas as she spent them in Cape May with us. A birthday nothing she had more style and class in her pinky finger than some ppl had in their entire family!
Till we meet AGAIN MY LOVELY GG mother,
Nanny Your in my heart forever!!!! Xoxo 😘
As someone from a fairly large middle class section of the Bronx, I find it irritation how ignorant people are about the borough - including many people from the Bronx who lived in some of the more down trodden parts and don’t k ow how great their borough actually is.
It’s sad.
The Bronx has several areas that are as nice or nicer than any areas of Brooklyn or Queens, including Country Club, Fieldston, City Island and Pelham Gardens. It’s also home to one of the best zoos in the world, the best botanical garden in the city, Fordham University (biggest green campus in New York City), Yankee Stadium, numerous yacht clubs, four golf courses and New York City’s largest park.
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