A group of reckless youngsters found their way onto two empty Queens train cars and took them for a brief joyride over the weekend, authorities said.
The suspects – all of whom appear to be teens – entered the lead train cars that parked in a location about 1,500 feet north of the Forest Hills-71st Avenue subway station around 4:45 p.m. Saturday, cops said.
The troublemakers found their way into the conductors’ compartments and operated the cars a short distance before bolting, cops said.
No one was reported hurt – and there wasn’t any risk of the cars leaving the yard to enter the main line, officials said.
“A few things to know. First is that a signal system would have prevented that train from getting on the main line,” NYC Transit President Richard Davey told reporters Thursday.
“The emergency brake would have stopped it. Two, our tower operator saw it immediately and called 911. So those kids were on there for minutes…not any longer period of time.”
Davey said an investigation will determine how the suspects accessed a key to the trains.
The suspects all appear to be teens. DCPI
They operated the train for a short distance before bolting. DCPI
No one was reported hurt. Peter Gerber“It could have been stolen. I don’t know,” he said. “But obviously the NYPD will find that out for us to say the least.”
Video released by the NYPD late Wednesday shows at least three backpack-riding suspects wandering through one of the two darkened cars. Cops were searching for the suspects on Thursday.
“Am I concerned?” Davey said of the disturbing subway system invasion. “You’re damn right. We’re going to find these kids and throw the book at them.”
