Sleepy Subway Riders Say They Don't Want to Be Woken Up by the NYPD | spoiled NYC

For the city that never sleeps, snoozing on the subway could be a golden time after a long day, so the idea of having those moments taken away has many commuters furious.

The NYPD announced Wednesday that it would be adding more officers to subway patrols who will be instructed to wake up riders who are taking a nap while on the train.

Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said that riders who fall asleep become easy targets from criminals on the subway, according to the New York Post.

“Seriously, by sleeping you make yourself, as reflected in our crime state, a very easy victim to lose your phone, to lose your wallet, to lose some of your clothing items,” Bratton said.

Since 2016 began, there have been 25 more felonies on the subway system than the same month in 2015, the Post reported. Subway crimes are up to 6.65 crimes per day — up from 4.8 during the same time in 2015.

In one recent incident, on Feb. 2 at about 3 a.m. a 37-year-old man was asleep onboard a 4 train when he felt a tug on his pants, police said. When he woke up he saw another man standing over him holding a razor in his hand and realized his jeans being cut in the left pocket area. 

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The victim tried to restrain the suspect but was punched in the face and the man fled the train at the 51st Street station. The suspect is also wanted for another attempted subway robbery in January.

However, although safety is on the mind of every straphanger, many were outraged with the news saying that taking a power nap on the subway is inevitable after a long day at work or school and riders should just be vigilant of their surroundings.

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“I have to be up for classes really early and closing my eyes for a bit is what I need to pick me up for the day,” said Angelique Gimble from Brooklyn. “Police should look for the bad guys not spend time waking people.”

Will Kaback from the Bronx added that for a lot of people, like himself, subway rides can last a long time before you reach your final destination.

“I get the safety part [of it] but sometimes you’ve worked a long day and can’t stop from falling asleep,” he said. “Just pay attention to who is around you.”

After Metro New York reported on the announcement on Wednesday, numerous readers commented on Metro’s Facebook page with messages of disbelief — and some anger.

“Blame the victim…had it coming because he or she dozed off,” wrote reader Allan Shweky.

Another reader, Joe Nardiello, said, “most of the people slashed had their eyes open.”

Bratton made the announcement alongside Mayor Bill de Blasio on Wednesday after also stating that the first month of 2016 was the safest since the NYPD has been keeping record.

According to the NYPD, this January saw 44 fewer crimes than in 2015 – with a decrease of 0.6 percent. The low crime numbers were in the categories of murder, robbery, burglar, grand larceny auto and shootings.

Check out NYPD Gives Out Warning to Subway Sleepers

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