When visiting New York remember to keep your
wits about you and don’t make unnecessary eye contact especially with the
down and outs you may come across. New York, with a population of over 1
million, was voted the safest among large US cities in 1998, but like
anywhere common sense prevails.
Always keep your wits about you and avoid the more deserted streets in the
daylight as well as after dark. There is a large police presence in New
York, patrolling the streets on foot and by bicycle as well as in patrol
cars. Police ride the subways and buses to ensure safety and there are also
Guardian Angels patrolling the subways and midtown streets. These Guardian
Angels are unpaid volunteers who are highly visible by the red berets and
t-shirts they wear. Although a welcome sight and encouraging for tourists
especially, they have no official police powers!
Police patrols are concentrated in areas at specific times and there has
been a recent drop in crime figures reflecting this.
Always use some common sense especially when using ATM machines; you can
never be too careful about who’s watching. Don’t carry unnecessary valuables
with you, leave them in a hotel safe for instance. If you carry a bag or
purse, make sure it is fastened with the clasp towards you or the strap is
over your body. Don’t stop to talk to anyone who may ask for money and avoid
small talk with strangers – they may have an accomplice behind you trying to
pick pocket your wallet or purse.
Common sense should prevail – don’t walk the streets alone at night and if
you can’t find a taxi, try to walk in a crowd.
Try to avoid the Lower East Side, midtown west of Broadway, Chinatown and
anywhere that may be off the beaten track. After business hours, the
Financial District can be very deserted and some of the streets in Soho can
be very risky after dark.
Be aware when visiting the parks as they are quite often used by drug
dealers and pick pockets, although you will feel safer when there is a
concert or similar event on.
If jogging is your forte, always seek advice from a member of staff at your
hotel about the safest places to go.
New York has quite a large crime rate, although it is more noticeable
because of the sheer size of population. Compared to a smaller city, the
crime rate is probably on a par.
New York Police Department:
1 Police PLZ
New York
NY
10038-1403
Tel: (718) 348-6377
