Two teenagers had been arrested after they had been allegedly seen on surveillance digicam as a part of a bunch that stole a subway prepare in Queens and took it for a joyride, in response to police.
The brazen theft happened simply earlier than 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 25 close to the 71st Avenue station in Forest Hills alongside the E/F/M/R traces, in response to the NYPD. Officers initially responded to stories of vandalism, however had been met by an MTA worker who reported a number of individuals boarded the unoccupied R prepare after which took it on a joyride for a brief distance.
The people broken a few of the prepare’s cameras by inserting markings on them, in response to police, who later launched video exhibiting the suspects. There have been believed to be six individuals sought by police in all.
On Monday, police confirmed that two teen boys, a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old, had been arrested in connection to the incident. Each had been charged with reckless endangerment, felony mischief, and trespassing; the youthful teen was additionally charged with possession of housebreaking instruments. It was not instantly clear whether or not the kids had employed attorneys.
“Breaking into and moving subway cars is dangerous, illegal, and will not be tolerated. We thank the NYPD for capturing these perpetrators who not only put their own lives at risk but also riders and transit workers,” stated NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow. “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.”
The MTA stated it was working with police to determine and discover these answerable for swiping the R prepare. NBC New York’s Charles Watson stories.
Some riders have questioned the MTA’s safety after a lot of regarding incidents, together with one in September wherein police alleged two suspects entered the Briarwood subway station and stole a prepare on the E/F line. The kids in that incident had been arrested after allegedly crashing the prepare.
In a Dec. 2023 incident, a number of suspects swiped two trains in Forest Hills and took them on a joyride earlier than ditching the locomotives.
An investigation stays ongoing.