Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
NYPD Deploying "Underground Marshals" On Late Night Subway Trains To Thwart iThieves
By
Garth Johnston
Published Jul 23, 2012
Modified Jul 23, 2012
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
Garth Johnston
Published Jul 23, 2012
Modified Jul 23, 2012
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
The NYPD and MTA's attempts to cut down on subway gadget grabbing has gone further than we knew. As electronics are more attractive to crooks than cash, cops have been increasing their presence on the subway for awhile now, but mostly undercover. Not always though! It seems, late night in the Bronx and Queens the cops are making no attempt to be low-key.
The Daily News attended an MTA committee meeting today and reports that for the last few months the NYPD has been putting uniformed officers on every overnight train in the Bronx and on two lines in Queens. Further, conductors have been announcing to riders that these "underground marshals" are on board so as to better deter would-be-muggers. And, according to Transit Bureau Chief Joseph Fox "this strategy has proven to be effective and will continue."
Since the strategy has been in effect, there have been only six felonies on the 2, 4 and 6 trains - and none on the D or 5 lines - in the Bronx, Fox said. The No. 7 and A lines in Queens also have been crime-free during those weekend hours, he said.
Good to know, because there have been some nastysubway thefts that we'd really like to see never happen again. Especially since the thieves have figured out Find My iPhone and similar device-tracking services.
Tagged
iphone
iphone theft
itheft
MTA
nypd
queens
the bronx
Garth Johnston
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Hochul names NY AG James as special prosecutor on alleged rape case at Cornell University
The governor said she does not have faith that the police and the Tompkins County DA effectively investigated the case.
By
Jon Campbell
Published Oct 1, 2026 at 9:04 p.m. ET
Founder of NYC LGBTQ therapy practice charged with rape after alleged sexual assaults
Joseph LoGiudice is the second therapist at Liberation Psychotherapy to be accused of sexually abusing a patient.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Founder of NYC LGBTQ therapy practice charged with rape after alleged sexual assaults
Joseph LoGiudice is the second therapist at Liberation Psychotherapy to be accused of sexually abusing a patient.
By
Giulia Heyward
US judge in NY indefinitely blocks ICE from making arrests at immigration courthouses
By
Arya Sundaram
Lawyer challenging NYC rent freeze releases Mamdani officials’ emails and text messages
By
David Brand
Push to strengthen NY sexual assault laws gathers steam after Cornell rape allegations
By
Walter Wuthmann
and
Jon Campbell
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 .