Violent Crimes Among the Lowest in Yonkers history
(Left to Right: Westchester County Legislator David Tubiolo, City Council President Lakisha Collins-Bellamy, Yonkers Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza, Mayor Mike Spano, Deputy Chief Paul Rice, First Deputy Chief Daniel Campanini, City Councilwoman Tasha Diaz. Photo by Maurice Mercado
Mayor Mike Spano today joined Yonkers Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza to announce the City’s 2025 Crime Statistics, which rank among the lowest in Yonkers’ history and reflect major gains in public safety.
Yonkers recorded one of its lowest crime totals ever in 2025, with overall crime down 16% year-over-year and down 42% since the start of Mayor Spano’s administration. Violent crime has also dropped 42% since 2011, with rape, robbery, and aggravated assault, all at all-time lows.
“Today’s numbers show what sustained investment in public safety, strong community partnerships, and the dedication of our police officers can accomplish,” said Mayor Spano. “Yonkers remains one of the safest big cities of its size in the nation, and we will continue working every day to keep our neighborhoods secure and our residents protected.”
Additional highlights include a 27% year-over-year drop in violent crime and a 100% homicide clearance rate. Yonkers also recorded the lowest number of bullet-to-body shootings among the Big 5 cities in New York State.
Shoplifting incidents are down 23% from their COVID-era peak in 2023, with 676 incidents reported in 2025 and arrests made in 72% of cases; more than half of those arrested (54%) were non-residents.
Grand larcenies of autos are down 34% from the 2023 peak, with 257 vehicles stolen in 2025, with over 50 cases tied to vehicles left running or with keys inside.
“These historic reductions in crime are the result of hard work by the men and women of the Yonkers Police Department who put themselves in harm’s way every day to protect our residents,” said Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza. “Alongside our community-oriented programs, our commitment to data-driven policing allows us to deploy resources strategically to prevent crime before it occurs and quickly apprehend perpetrators when an offense does take place. Thank you to Mayor Spano and the City Council, whose continued investment in public safety provides our Department with the tools needed to achieve these results.”
Yonkers has advanced its data-driven policing model using real-time information, analytics, and technology to prevent crime before it happens. By identifying patterns, trends, and emerging hotspots, the Department can deploy resources more strategically and respond faster to incidents. This proactive approach allows officers to focus where they are needed most, improving outcomes while strengthening community safety.
The Yonkers Police Department reports crime data through the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, the national standard for tracking and comparing crime trends across jurisdictions. The City of Yonkers consistently has been ranked among the safest cities of its size in the nation.
