NEW YORK — Police have arrested two suspects for stealing a New York subway train last month, while the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has announced measures it is taking to prevent a recurrence of such events.
The New York Police Department announced the suspects charged are ages 15 and 17. The 15-year-old was arrested at school in Brooklyn, WCBS-TV reports, while the second individual was arrested at home.
The incident occurred Jan. 25 and involved at least a half-dozen individuals boarding an unoccupied train on a layover track at the 71st Street station in Queens. That group operated the train, reportedly at speeds up to 30 mph, and broke numerous windows [see “Police seek suspects …,” Trains News Wire, Jan. 29, 2025]. The MTA has said the train had been locked while parked on the layover track. It was at least the third such incident in a year.
“Breaking into and moving subway cars is dangerous, illegal, and will not be tolerated,” New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow said in a statement. “We thank the NYPD for capturing these perpetrators who not only put their own lives at risk but also riders and transit workers. Those hooligan games cannot happen, and that’s why we’ve stepped up security at key transit locations and are actively exploring new technologies to prevent access and control of the operator’s cab, including biometric verification.”
The MTA said it is looking at measures including adding an alarm to the board tracking train movements if a stored train is moved without authorization, as well as seeing if circuitry allows for an audible alarm and lighting indicator for unexpected movement. It is also looking to add stops at the end of layover areas that would automatically trip emergency brakes. It will explore the possibility of adding biometric identification into future cars in the agency’s order with Kawasaki for the R211 subway cars.
“It was at least the third such incident in a year”, I think it’s beyond time to increase security especially with the at “least” statement. Also are the emergency “breaks” for security personnel?
I think it’s beyond time to severely punish criminals. Including juveniles, if the juveniles are repeat offenders.
Also using the recent precedent in Oakland County, Michigan, parents should be hauled in for questioning every time a juvenile is charged with a serious crime. Few parents will be held criminally liable, as in the Michigan case, but maybe some of the parents will be concerned enough to exert some control over their kids.