They are stealing trains for joyrides.
New Yorkers didn’t need more reasons to dread riding the subway, but here’s a new one: Teenagers have started stealing trains and moving them for TikTok clicks. The New York Times reported that groups of teenagers are “conquesting” trains, which means they are breaking into cabins of parked trains with duplicate keys and messing with the controls. This, after the subway surfing trend, is another deadly game that teenagers seem to be playing.
There have been multiple incidents of trains being moved without authorization. In 2023, there were three reported instances of trains being moved without permission; in the first three months of this year, a dozen have already been reported.
It is illegal to possess keys to the trains or move them, and if caught, you could be charged with a Class A misdemeanor. Some do get caught.
In March last year, a 15-year-old was caught with Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) gear at his high school; it was suspected that he had moved subway trains at least eight times before being caught. In February 2025, two teenagers, ages 15 and 17, were arrested after they stole an unoccupied train and moved it. They damaged the train’s cameras, boarded it and took it for a joyride. In 2024, a pair of 17-year-olds were arrested after they crashed an empty subway train after moving it without authorization.
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For some, trains are fascinating, and train enthusiasts who dream of becoming conductors are curious. Some break into trains without any intention of moving them but take mementos from the trains, such as an old announcement message. These “conquestors” are “railfans,” and they just want access to play with the controls and make their own announcements. Few want to take them for joyrides.
But the fact that teenagers have found a way to break into trains at night using $10 keys sold on Amazon is concerning. These keys can open most car doors on subway trains in New York, and it is relatively easy to find skeleton keys online. Worse, teenagers, in their bid to have some fun or get some likes, might injure themselves or a train worker.
The MTA has come under fire for security lapses, but it says it is taking a series of measures, including installing new cameras and door locks. It is also working to implement biometric controls to prevent unauthorized use.
Related: The 15 Best Things to Do in New York City (and Top Things to Avoid)
Subway Surfer Phenomenon
As per interviews conducted by The New York Times, few consider subway surfers part of “railfans” communities. But this group also exists, seeking adrenaline from subway trains.
In recent years, teenagers have adopted this deadly pastime of subway surfing. Inspired by videos on social media, youngsters are riding atop trains or hanging off them, risking their lives for views. You might also find videos of them jumping between cars or dangling off the back of the train; they also perform stunts and pose for the camera.
All of these activities are not only illegal but also incredibly dangerous.
In October last year, two teenage girls were found dead on top of a J train at a Brooklyn station. In 2023, a 15-year-old boy, Zackery Nazario, was killed when he was hit in the head by a beam while riding on the roof. Between 2018 and 2022, there were five deaths related to subway surfing; the number climbed to five in the first 10 months of 2025.
Although subway surfing is not a new phenomenon, it has ensnared more teenagers who are attracted to the thrill. They post videos of themselves endangering their lives on trains. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority works with Meta and TikTok to get these videos deleted, and since 2023, police have used drones to catch teenagers in the act and save their lives. But the efforts haven’t turned young people away from these stunts. The New York Police Department stopped 47 people from attempting it.