2 teens accused in R train joyride faces multiple charges; MTA considers security upgrades
A 15-year-old from Brooklyn and a 17-year-old from the Bronx are charged with criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and possession of burglary tools.
More Stories
Two teens were arrested and charged Monday night in connection with a hijacking of an empty R train last week, according to police.
A 15-year-old from Brooklyn and a 17-year-old from the Bronx are charged with criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and possession of burglary tools.
The group, which according to police included five total individuals believed to be teens, are accused of hijacking the train Wednesday night and left at the 36th Street station in Sunset Park.
The charges come after the MTA chairman called for strict consequences in the wake of the alleged theft that did not result in any passengers being injured or damaged to other trains.
“Can we please just not give them a slap on the wrist and send them home to mom? Because that's just happened several times,” said MTA Chair Janno Leiber. “…We'd love them to grow up and become responsible train operators, but they can't do this. And it - the criminal justice system - has heretofore treated it as a non-issue."
In a statement to News 12, the MTA says they are considering remnant safety upgrades in the wake of the hijacking, including ways to remote trigger a trains emergency break as well as bio-metric identification technology to prevent unauthorized operations of train controls.
Police confirm to News 12 they are searching for the others seen on video breaking into the train.
