The Heat Index: Crime and Seasons in New York City

How NYC's 2022 crime data reveals a pattern criminologists have studied for two centuries.

Glossary

Click a term to see its definition.

Index Crime
A category of serious crimes (including murder, rape, robbery, felony assault, burglary, and larceny) that the NYPD and FBI track together as a standard measure of overall crime trends.
Felony Assault
A serious physical attack that causes significant injury or involves a weapon, distinguished from misdemeanor assault by the severity of harm or intent involved.
Grand Larceny Auto
The theft of a motor vehicle, tracked as its own category separate from other forms of grand larceny (theft of property).
Grand Larceny
Stealing property worth more than $1,000, or certain items such as a credit card or firearm regardless of their value.
Burglary
Unlawfully entering a building with intent to commit a crime, typically theft.
Temperature-Aggression Theory
The idea that hot weather makes people more irritable and aggressive, which makes violent conflicts more likely.
Opportunity Theory
The idea that crime rises when everyday routines create more chances for it, such as more people out in public or homes left empty during vacations.
Criminologist
A researcher who studies crime, including why it happens, how it changes over time, and how it can be prevented.

Sources

All monthly crime figures on this site come from the NYPD's Citywide Crime Statistics press releases, published monthly by the New York City Police Department.