Quick Hit: 

Multiple women have reported being assaulted while walking in New York City, sparking concerns about safety in the city. The incidents, shared on social media platforms like TikTok, have led to an investigation by the New York Police Department.

Key Details: 

• Several women have reported being punched by men while walking in downtown Manhattan in broad daylight.
• The New York Police Department is investigating two recent incidents of women being assaulted, which bear similarities to the accounts shared on social media.
• The reports of assault come amid perceptions of rising crime in the U.S, despite recent FBI data suggesting a decrease in crime rates.

Diving Deeper: 

The incidents have been shared widely on TikTok, with women expressing their safety concerns in comments and reply videos. The victims include women who were assaulted while walking home from class, on their way to work, and while walking their dogs. At least two of the women described suspects with similar characteristics, leading to speculation about a possible connection between the incidents.

While the police have not confirmed whether the incidents described in the TikTok videos are the ones they are investigating, they have acknowledged that the cases they are looking into bear a striking resemblance to the accounts posted on social media. It remains unclear whether the two incidents under investigation are connected.

The videos have circulated amid widespread perceptions in the U.S. that crime is on the rise, despite recent FBI data suggesting a decrease in crime rates last year. However, concerns over public safety have continued to loom in New York City, with a series of recent high-profile crimes in the subway system prompting Gov. Kathy Hochul to deploy National Guard members to some of the busiest stations.

Despite a reported decrease in shootings, murders, and other crimes like grand larceny in February compared to the same month last year, there was a 3.6% uptick in felony assault, with 1,968 incidents reported to the police last month. Misdemeanor assault has also seen an increase, up 10.3% from this time last year and up 15.7% in the past two years.

The recent assault incidents have left many women feeling unsafe in the city, with some sharing their experiences online. The reports have sparked a wave of concern among women in the city, with many expressing their fears and anxieties on social media.