Jamaica, Queens is generally safe for daytime visits to its busy shopping and transit areas, but it has more crime than most of the borough. The 103rd Precinct, which covers downtown Jamaica, has the highest violent crime rate in Queens: 8.0 per 1,000 residents through Nov. 1, 2026. Normal big-city awareness is enough by day. Take extra care at night, on quiet blocks, and around crowded stations.
Key takeaways
- The 103rd Precinct’s violent crime rate is 8.0 per 1,000 residents, more than double the Queens average of 3.4.
- Major crime across Jamaica’s two precincts is up 5.7% this year. Queens as a whole is down 0.9%.
- Theft is rising fastest. Retail theft in the 103rd is up 26.5%.
- The serious stuff is easing: murders are down from 12 to 10 and shooting incidents from 18 to 16.
- Areas to the north, like the 107th Precinct, have much lower rates.
Jamaica’s safety at a glance
Jamaica is covered mainly by two precincts, and their crime rates are very different. Here’s how they stack up against the rest of Queens.
| Area | NYPD precinct | Violent crimes per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Jamaica, Hollis, Lakewood | 103rd | 8.0 |
| Far Rockaway, Bayswater | 101st | 6.0 |
| Corona, Elmhurst | 110th | 5.5 |
| Southeast Jamaica, St. Albans, Rochdale | 113th | 3.7 |
| Queens average | All precincts | 3.4 |
| Fresh Meadows | 107th | 2.1 |
By “violent crime” we mean NYPD’s counts of murder, rape, robbery and felony assault from Jan. 1 to Nov. 1, 2026. We divided each precinct’s count by its 2020 census population. That population figure is third-party data (compiled by journalist John Keefe) and it’s six years old, so treat the rates as a good estimate rather than an exact measure.
What the 2026 numbers show
Jamaica is moving against the Queens trend this year. Major crime across the two precincts rose from 2,938 to 3,106 while Queens as a whole dipped slightly.
| Category (2025 in parentheses) | 103rd Precinct | 113th Precinct |
|---|---|---|
| Murders | 5 (6) | 5 (6) |
| Robberies | 283 (323) | 114 (95) |
| Felony assaults | 650 (616) | 344 (339) |
| Grand larcenies | 550 (491) | 468 (380) |
| Shooting incidents | 10 (8) | 6 (10) |
| All major crime | 1,908 (1,840) | 1,198 (1,098) |
The figures come from NYPD’s CompStat reports for the 103rd and 113th Precincts. NYPD labels them preliminary and replaces them every week, so expect small shifts.
The 103rd Precinct
The 103rd covers the downtown Jamaica business district, so its 8.0 rate needs some context. Shoppers, commuters and travelers fill these blocks every day, but the rate only counts people who live here. In our view that likely overstates the risk to any one visitor. That’s our reasoning, not an NYPD finding, and the data can’t tell us how much.
There’s some good news: robberies fell 12.4%. Felony assaults rose 5.5% and grand larceny rose 12%, though.
The 113th Precinct
The 113th sits much closer to the borough average at 3.7. Its trends are mixed. Shooting incidents dropped from 10 to 6, but robberies rose 20% and grand larceny rose 23.2%.
The long view
Jamaica is far safer than it was a generation ago. In 1990 the two precincts reported 16,880 major crimes. In 2025 they reported 3,515, a drop of about 79%.
Is Jamaica safe for visitors?
During the day, yes. Jamaica Avenue, Sutphin Boulevard and Jamaica Station are busy, with open shops and steady foot traffic, and ordinary big-city awareness is usually enough.
Theft is the most likely problem. Retail theft in the 103rd rose from 912 to 1,154 cases this year. NYPD reports it on a separate line from grand larceny, so the two counts aren’t directly comparable. Crowded streets and stations are good hunting grounds for pickpockets and phone snatchers, so keep your phone and bag close.
My close friend Marcus has shopped around Jamaica Avenue practically every weekend for the last three years. He once found a mint-condition vintage Knicks jacket at a cramped sneaker shop near 165th Street, right around noon, when the block was buzzing. He never felt unsafe in the middle of the day. But once the sun went down and the metal security gates started rolling down over the storefronts, the energy changed, and the side streets got a little too quiet for comfort. These days, Marcus makes sure he’s heading down into the Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer station well before dusk, with his phone and wallet zipped into his front jacket pocket.
What you can do
- Go by day. Do your shopping while the stores are open and the streets are full, and be at the station before dusk.
- Keep your things close. Put your phone and wallet in a zipped front pocket, and carry your bag in front of you.
- Stay on the main avenues. Jamaica Avenue and Sutphin Boulevard have the lights and foot traffic. Skip quiet side streets once the shops close.
- Use a ride after dark. If you’re out late, book a rideshare or taxi instead of walking.
Small habits like these take almost no effort, and they let you enjoy what Jamaica does well: the shops, the food and the easy transit.
Is Jamaica Station safe?
Jamaica Station connects the LIRR, the subway and the AirTrain to JFK. Daytime crowds usually make it feel secure. Still, the 103rd has logged 38 transit crimes this year, up from 29.
- Stay near other passengers on platforms late at night.
- Keep luggage in hand and your phone out of sight.
- Wait in staffed or well-lit areas.
- Book your ride to or from the station ahead of time.
Is Jamaica safe at night?
It calls for more care after dark. Shops close, streets empty, and a quiet block can feel very different from the same block at noon.
- Stick to main avenues with lights and foot traffic.
- Take a rideshare or taxi instead of walking long distances.
- Don’t wander unfamiliar blocks late at night.
- Know your route before you leave the station.
Should I stay near Jamaica for a JFK flight?
It can be a practical choice for an early flight, thanks to the AirTrain. Pick a hotel close to the station or on a main road, and read recent reviews that mention the walk and the area at night.
Which parts of Jamaica are safer?
The areas to the north of downtown generally have lower crime. The 107th Precinct has a violent crime rate of 2.1 per 1,000 residents, about a quarter of the 103rd’s rate.
NYPD lists Fresh Meadows, Cunningham Heights and Hilltop Village as part of the 107th. Jamaica Estates and Jamaica Hill are often described as quieter residential areas, but that description comes from general local reputation, not from NYPD figures. We don’t have a crime rate for either one.
Conditions also change from block to block, so check the exact address you’re considering. For the wider borough, see our guide to the safest neighborhoods in Queens.
What Jamaica property and business owners can do
Retail theft is the clearest trend in downtown Jamaica. If you run a store there, compare your own incident records with the precinct numbers before deciding what you need.
Busy storefronts can benefit from retail security and loss prevention. Residential and mixed-use buildings may be better served by building security or residential security. A building security risk assessment is a good first step.
Dahlcore Security Guard Services is a licensed New York State security guard agency. It is veteran-owned, was founded in 2018, and is led by an owner with 23 years of security experience. Every client gets a customized plan, a named account manager and 24/7 support through a command and dispatch center. Officers are unarmed by default. Armed security is provided only on documented request after a risk assessment.
If you own or manage property in Jamaica, contact Dahlcore or browse its security services to talk through your site.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jamaica, Queens a good area?
It’s busy and diverse, with strong transit links and plenty of shops, but it has more crime than most of Queens. It suits people who value access and activity. If you want quiet, look at neighborhoods farther north.
Is Jamaica, Queens dangerous?
Not for most daytime visitors. Its main precinct does have the highest violent crime rate in Queens, but that rate counts only residents, and we think daytime crowds likely push it higher than the risk to any one visitor. That’s our reading, not an NYPD finding. Most real concerns come down to specific blocks, late hours and theft.
What is the safest part of Queens?
Among precincts with reliable population data, the 111th, covering much of northeast Queens, has the lowest violent crime rate at 1.3 per 1,000 residents. The 112th, which includes Forest Hills, is also low at 1.9.
What part of NYC should I stay away from?
No part of the city is entirely off-limits, but risk rises at night on empty blocks. Check the precinct for any address you’re considering and ask locals about the specific street.
How can I check crime near my hotel?
Look up the local precinct in NYPD’s precinct crime statistics or CompStat 2.0 to see the trend, then read recent reviews from guests who stayed there.
How we measured this
Crime counts come from NYPD CompStat reports for the period ending Nov. 1, 2026. The Queens figures combine NYPD’s Queens North and Queens South reports. Precinct populations come from 2020 census counts by precinct, compiled by journalist John Keefe.
A few limits to keep in mind:
- Population data is dated. The Keefe figures are third-party and six years old, so rates may drift from today’s reality.
- The rates are ours. They’re our own calculation, not an NYPD ranking. They cover 10 months, count only residents, and include only crimes reported to police.
- Our crowd reasoning is an opinion. Any point we make about crowds pushing a rate up is reasoned judgment, not something NYPD has found.
- Neighborhood claims have gaps. NYPD lists Fresh Meadows, Cunningham Heights and Hilltop Village for the 107th Precinct. Jamaica Estates and Jamaica Hill are described as quieter based on general local descriptions, and we have no figure for them.
- Borders don’t line up. Precinct boundaries don’t match neighborhood boundaries exactly. We left the 105th and 116th precincts out of the comparisons because the 116th was created after the 2020 census.
Get a security plan for your Jamaica property
So, is Jamaica Queens safe? For most daytime visitors, yes, with extra care at night and around crowded stations. If you own or manage property in the area, Dahlcore provides security guard services across Queens.
Dahlcore Security Guard Services is a licensed NYS security guard agency, veteran-owned, founded in 2018, and led by an owner with 23 years of security experience. Every client gets a customized plan, a named account manager, and access to 24/7 support through our command and dispatch center.
Contact Dahlcore or browse our security services to talk through your property.
