The recent incident of a group of teenagers taking an empty subway train on a joyride has garnered attention from the public and law enforcement. New NYPD footage released on Wednesday night provides a clear view of the faces of the young suspects behind the daring escapade. The footage shows six teenagers, some carrying backpacks and one with a professional camera slung around his neck, stepping off an R train at 36th Street in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
Initially, it was believed that the teens had taken the train from the storage yard at the Forest Hills-71 Avenue station in Queens. However, further investigation revealed that their joyride began at 36th Street. Before taking control of the train, the teenagers attempted to cover the security cameras with black marker to conceal their identities. Despite their efforts, they recorded the entire escapade and later posted it on Instagram.
During the joyride, the teenagers reached speeds of approximately 30 mph. Parts of their journey were conducted on active train lines, although it remains unclear how far they traveled before abandoning the train. After ditching the train, the teenagers fled on foot and are currently evading authorities.
This incident is not the first of its kind, as a similar event occurred in September when two 17-year-olds were apprehended for attempting to take a subway train for a midnight joyride at the Briarwood station in Queens. The suspects managed to operate the train for a short distance before crashing.
Law enforcement is urging anyone with information about the teenage offenders to contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish speakers. Tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website or on social media @NYPDTips.
The reckless behavior of these teenagers poses a serious threat to public safety and underscores the need for increased vigilance and security measures on public transportation systems. The NYPD is actively pursuing leads to apprehend the individuals responsible for this dangerous stunt.
