Yonkers Sees Significant Crime Reduction in 2025
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
City officials announced today that Yonkers experienced a substantial decline in crime in 2025, continuing a long-term trend of improved public safety. The newly released statistics show overall crime fell by 16 percent compared to the previous year, placing last year among the safest on record for the city.
Since the beginning of Mayor Mike Spano’s administration, total crime in Yonkers has dropped by 42 percent. Violent crime has followed the same trajectory, also decreasing 42 percent since 2011. Serious offenses including rape, robbery, and aggravated assault reached their lowest levels in the city’s history.
“These results reflect years of focused investment in public safety, collaboration with our communities, and the extraordinary commitment of our police officers,” Mayor Spano said. “Yonkers continues to stand out as one of the safest cities of its size nationwide, and we remain committed to protecting every neighborhood.”
Among the year’s notable outcomes, violent crime declined by 27 percent year over year, and all homicide cases were successfully cleared. Yonkers also reported the lowest number of gunshot-related injuries among New York State’s five largest cities.
Retail theft showed improvement as well, with shoplifting incidents down 23 percent from their 2023 high. In 2025, 676 cases were reported, and arrests were made in nearly three-quarters of incidents. More than half of those arrested were individuals who did not reside in Yonkers.
Vehicle thefts also declined sharply, falling 34 percent from their peak two years earlier. Of the 257 vehicles reported stolen in 2025, more than 50 cases involved cars left unattended with keys inside or engines running.
Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza credited the progress to the efforts of the Yonkers Police Department and its strategic approach to crime prevention. “Our officers work tirelessly to keep residents safe, and their dedication is reflected in these historic reductions,” he said. “By combining community-based initiatives with real-time data and analytics, we are able to deploy resources effectively, prevent crime, and respond swiftly when incidents occur.”
The Yonkers Police Department continues to rely on data-driven policing, using technology and analytics to identify trends and emerging hotspots. This proactive strategy allows officers to focus on areas of greatest need while strengthening trust and safety citywide.
Crime data is reported through the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, ensuring transparency and consistency with national standards. Yonkers has consistently ranked among the safest cities in its population category, a distinction reinforced by the latest figures.
