NYC assaults on elderly have surged over 140% since 2018: NYPD
Assaults on Gotham’s elderly are up 14% compared to last year — and have skyrocketed 143% over the same span in 2018, according to NYPD data obtained by The Post.
There have been 2,112 felony assaults on one of the city’s most vulnerable groups so far this year, compared to 1,853 in the period last year, the data show. There were only 870 assaults on seniors in the same span of 2018.
Nearly 80% of the 2,112 assaults in 2026 have led to an arrest, and the NYPD said many of them are being committed by repeat offenders.
“This is happening because the same perps keep getting arrested and released through this revolving criminal justice system that seems to prioritize the rights of criminals over law-abiding citizens,” said retired NYPD detective and John Jay adjunct professor Michael Alcazar.
“The mentally ill are left out in the wild and New Yorkers must keep their heads on a swivel and be vigilant in avoiding this population. Seniors end up becoming low-hanging fruit and easy pickings for the criminals.”
In 2025, 462 suspects were arrested for three or more felony assaults in a year. That was a 192% increase over the 158 individuals arrested for three or more felony assaults in 2018, according to the NYPD.