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Poll: 51 Percent Of Riders Fear Taking Subway At Night After Slashings

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The number of slashings in New York City has jumped more than 20 percent so far this year compared with the same period last year, and many people – particularly subway riders – said they no longer feel safe.

As CBS2's Hazel Sanchez reported, there have been 645 incidents since the beginning of the year, compared with 536 last year.

The figures and headlines are terrifying for many of the nearly 6 million riders take to the subways every day. Francesco Manselli said he now takes the subway hesitantly and is not comfortable on it at night.

"I am afraid," he said. "It's too much crime."

Many other riders feel the same. According to a recent NY1/Baruch College citywide poll, 51 percent of New Yorkers said they are now afraid to ride the subway at night.

Kim Robilotto of the Upper West Side said the recent string of subway slashings were exactly why she is afraid.

"Even a headline – somebody could see a headline and not even know anything about the story, and it will affect how they feel about riding the subway at night," she said.

When asked about the number of people who reported being afraid, Mayor Bill de Blasio said it was understandable.

"I certainly understand why people are worried," de Blasio said. "And they're going to see more police presence. Our strategic response group is going to be deployed to provide more presence in the subways."

But people who spoke with CBS2 said it will take more than just stepped up police presence to increase their sense of security in the subway system.

"It's not safe anymore, and more police will not do the job," Manselli said. "That will deplete the money from the city."

The most recent statistics showed that crime in the subway is up 17 percent since the same time last year. Some straphangers believe safety issues could stem from the current economic crisis and the city's lack of affordable housing.

"I think people are just getting pushed to the point where they are unable to provide for themselves, and that's when they take drastic measures of mugging people and whatnot. because they can't provide for themselves," said Kate Griffler of Hell's Kitchen.

Riders were hoping the rise in subway crime was a trend, and that it will fade as quickly as it arrived.

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