Particle.news
Download on the App Store

NYPD Uses Drones to Stop Teens Riding on B Train Roof and Arrest Five

Police said the case exposed mounting safety and security risks from rooftop subway riding plus the spread of genuine MTA keys into the hands of minors.

Overview

  • Police said drone footage captured multiple youths riding on the silver roof of a southbound B train and that five boys were arrested on charges of reckless endangerment and criminal trespassing.
  • Officers took two teens into custody after they jumped off the moving train, climbed into a backyard, and walked onto the sidewalk where police detained them.
  • Police reported that one of the arrested youths carried six genuine MTA keys, which can open cab doors and sidewalk hatches and allow access to restricted parts of the system.
  • Reporting noted that serious injuries followed the arrests, including separate cases in which two 16-year-olds were badly hurt while attempting rooftop stunts.
  • Advocates and officials say the episode underscores growing transit security gaps and shows how drones and increased enforcement are being used to try to curb a recurring, dangerous trend that has included dozens of key-related cases since 2023.