All of NYC’s Subways Outfitted With Security Cameras

All 472 of New York City’s subway stations now have security cameras, the New York Post reported.

The MTA has installed roughly 2,000 more cameras at more than 200 stations since December 2020, with 30% of the cameras centrally accessible to remote officers in real time, and 70% that record locally.

Until the push to install cameras as a way of deterring a surge in subway crime began late last year, only 200 stations had cameras, according to MTA Chief Safety Officer Pat Warren.

Warren told the Post that the security recordings have been instrumental in capturing subway felons; between July and August, arrests rose from 3,125 to 3,680, 29% higher than 2020.

“These cameras are not there to watch or invade in any way on the personal experience of our riders,” Warren said. “But if you are a criminal, and we know where a crime took place, we will be able to go to those recordings, find you, and deliver that image to the police so they can investigate.”

According to NYPD data, there were 2.19 major felony crimes per million riders in August, a spike from 1.78 in July. “Major felonies” includes robbery, grand larceny, and assault. Prior to the pandemic, there were 1.47 felonies per million riders.

New York City is relying on people to return to work via public transit, and has directed hundreds of police officers and technology upgrades to the beleaguered subway system in hopes of giving riders a sense of security after a year plagued by reports of high-profile crimes throughout the trains.

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smarcus@hamodia.com