New York police are on the hunt for a group of daring thieves who managed to steal a subway train in Brooklyn, take it for a high-speed joyride, and even post about it on Instagram.
Authorities say six young men, mostly dressed in black hoodies, sneaked into an R train parked near the 36th Street station in Sunset Park on the night of January 25. Once inside, they smashed the glass panels covering security cameras before somehow gaining control of the train’s operator cab and setting it in motion.
Videos shared on Instagram show the train speeding through the tunnels, though it’s unclear how far they actually went. In a surprising twist, the group managed to return the train to its original location before disappearing into the night.
The whole stunt initially went unnoticed, and the train was put back into service the next day, running its usual route to Forest Hills, Queens. It wasn’t until then that an operator noticed the vandalized cab door and damaged security cameras, leading to an investigation and the train being pulled from service.
Now, police are searching for the suspects, who are facing reckless endangerment charges. Meanwhile, MTA officials are under fire for what they’re calling a major security failure. CEO Janno Lieber has suggested upgrading future train models with biometric locks instead of traditional keys to prevent similar incidents.
The MTA plans to replace some of its oldest subway cars—many dating back to the 1970s and 80s—over the next five years, but for now, officials are working to figure out how this group pulled off such a bold stunt.