Felony assaults on New York City's elderly population have surged by 143% since 2018, with a 14% increase recorded in the current year, according to New York Police Department data obtained by The Post. This year has seen 2,112 felony assaults on seniors, compared to 1,853 during the same period last year and just 870 in 2018.
Approximately 80% of this year's assaults have resulted in an arrest, with police noting that many perpetrators are repeat offenders. This trend has led to concerns about the effectiveness of the criminal justice system in deterring repeat offenses.
"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 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."
Data indicates a significant rise in repeat offenders, with 462 suspects arrested for three or more felony assaults in 2025, a 192% increase from the 158 individuals arrested for similar offenses in 2018. A police source noted that the reoffending rate for felony assault is up 50% this year, calling it an "astronomical increase."
Christopher Herrmann, a former NYPD crime analyst supervisor, highlighted that these assaults are concerning because major crime in the city has decreased by 6% overall this year. "What we’re seeing is a concentration of violence among a particularly vulnerable population," said Herrmann, an associate professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. "The senior population has grown … but nowhere near enough to explain a 143% increase in assaults."
While the 65-and-older population in New York City has grown by approximately half a million over the past two decades, a 53% increase according to the NYS Comptroller’s Office, this demographic shift does not account for the dramatic rise in assaults.
About a third of assaults on the elderly this year are related to domestic violence, according to the NYPD. However, a significant portion involves stranger assaults. Instances include an attack on an 81-year-old woman in Queens who was punched in the face by an unknown assailant, and a 72-year-old man who was shoved onto subway tracks in Midtown, sustaining a broken rib and dislocated shoulder.
In another incident, an 85-year-old woman was left unconscious with a brain bleed after being shoved to the ground in an unprovoked attack in Union Square. Alcazar suggested that addressing the issue requires more than just the NYPD's efforts, stating, "The mayor’s other agencies need to step up."