The Nation: Citizens to the Rescue

First, the bad news: according to the FBI, aggravated assaults rose by 6% across the nation last year. Now the good news: people are doing something about it—at least in New York City, where apathy has long since seemed a conditioned reflex.

In the space of five days recently, New Yorkers came to the rescue in three different assault cases, capturing and holding suspects until the police arrived. In one instance, nearly 100 outraged citizens surrounded the taxicab in which three muggers were trying to escape, pressing in so close that the assailants locked...