Sexual assault rose in Bronx CD12 — Williamsbridge / Baychester, the most prominent single-neighborhood signal in February 2026. The category appears three times in the top five across separate boroughs — Bronx CD12, Brooklyn CD11 — Bensonhurst, and Queens CD13 — Queens Village / Cambria Heights all registered spikes. That breadth across geographically distinct districts is the defining pattern of this briefing.
Citywide volume is down 5.7% against the prior 12 months — 261,613 incidents against 277,553. The signal mix carries that decline in its structure: 54 sustained-shift signals and 47 below-trend signals against 24 fresh spikes across 59 neighborhoods. Queens CD14 — Far Rockaway / Broad Channel and Brooklyn CD9 — South Crown Heights / Lefferts Gardens each show distinct moves — other larceny and aggravated assault, respectively — adding two separate categories to a month otherwise dominated by one.
With 126 total signals and the same category appearing at the top of rankings in three different neighborhoods, February 2026 is worth watching as a possible multi-district pattern rather than a localized outlier. The citywide trend remains below the prior 12-month baseline, but the concentration of sexual assault signals across boroughs is a structural question that the next month's data will help resolve.
Sustained drops worth naming
Homicide ran below trend in the trailing 12 months — 28% down from the year before. Sustained shifts often precede a baseline reset; we surface them at the same prominence as spikes.
Public Analyst.ai, “February 2026 — New York,” archived snapshot.Permanent URL: /new-york/2026/february