Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
#1 Subway Superfan Darius McCollum Arrested For Stealing Bus
By
Ben Yakas
Published Aug 31, 2010
Modified Aug 31, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Aug 31, 2010
Modified Aug 31, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Darius McCollum, NYC's #1 mass transit enthusiast, was arrested today for stealing a bus. McCollum, 45, was spotted driving the coach northbound on a ramp of the Van Wyck Expressway at 8:50 a.m. and was arrested without incident, police said. Interestingly, according to the Times, he stole a Trailways bus from NJ instead of one from NYC Transit. He was charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property.
This was McCollum's 27th arrest; his last one came in October 2008, for impersonating a federal employee. McCollum is diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, and has spent more than a third of his life in jail for victimless transit-related offenses. His most famous theft was taking an E train six stops to World Trade Center when he was 15.
Recently, the MTA warned employees that McCollum was spotted near bus depots in the Bronx. NYC Transit spokesman Paul Fleuranges said, "This posture has been instrumental in raising awareness among our employees and has helped prevent him from gaining access to our facilities and equipment. We applaud the NYPD's recent arrest, and hope he is punished to the fullest extent of the law and kept far away from anything with wheels."
Tagged
asperger's syndrome
bus
darius mccollum
MTA
nyc transit
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
The NYPD arrested a mom and took her kids' Christmas gifts. She never got them back.
A new lawsuit accuses the NYPD of making it hard for New Yorkers to reclaim seized belongings.
By
Samantha Max
Published Oct 22, 2026 at 6:00 a.m. ET
Retired NYPD detective charged with murder in George Washington Bridge shooting
Police say a Rockland County man was fatally shot during what appeared to be a road rage incident on Tuesday night.
By
Charles Lane
News
Retired NYPD detective charged with murder in George Washington Bridge shooting
Police say a Rockland County man was fatally shot during what appeared to be a road rage incident on Tuesday night.
By
Charles Lane
NYPD officer faces disciplinary trial 10 years after killing Delrawn Small
By
Ben Feuerherd
NYC adult daycare operators charged with committing over $500K in Medicaid fraud
By
Caroline Lewis
Port Authority eyes $117M fix to Manhattan roadway where falling debris smashed cars
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .