41% of New York Residents Say They Have ‘Never Been This Worried’ for Their Safety
Crime has become commonplace in New York State, where 41 percent of residents say they have “never” felt so concerned for their personal safety before.
A new poll from the Siena College Research Institute (SCRI) found that 61 percent of people living in New York are either “very,” or “somewhat” fearful that “they might be a victim of a crime.” In the Big Apple, the numbers are even worse. 16 percent of New York City residents have been assaulted in the city within the last year, and similarly, 16 percent were the victims of burglary within the last year.
The poll also found that more than a quarter of New York City residents (38 percent) have “witnessed violent or threatening behavior among others in a public setting,” while 36 percent have felt threatened by a stranger’s behavior in public themselves. 57 percent of respondents living in the city frequently felt concerned for their safety when out in public.
“New Yorkers across the entire state agree that crime is a serious problem,” Don Levy, SCRI’s Director said. “New York City residents are more likely to see crime as a serious problem in their community and as a threat to them personally compared to those that live in either the metro suburbs or upstate. And Gotham residents are two or more times more likely to have taken a self-defense class, joined a neighborhood watch, moved, or purchased a gun in order to protect themselves than are residents of other parts of the state.”
SCRI also found that several New Yorkers have also made investments in home security measures such as video surveillance, motion-censored lighting, or professionally monitored security systems. 14 percent of residents said that they remove bumper stickers or yard signs expressing personal beliefs for fear of targeted violence.
These findings come as a string of career criminals have made national headlines for tormenting New York City residents repeatedly on public transport and on the bustling streets of the city. However, progressives in the state continuously implement catch-and-release policies that put law-abiding residents at the mercy of violent criminals who don’t often receive extended sentences until severe and irrevocable damage is done to persons or property.
“Crime and the threat of crime is on the minds of many of us as we simply go through our everyday lives. Most say that they are no more worried than ever but over 40% say it’s the worst it’s ever been,” Levy concluded.
