Common Tourist Scams in New York City Subway (and How to Avoid Them)
Stations that account for most subway crime
- Times Square-42nd St — highest absolute incident count because of ridership volume (~200,000 a day). Late-night feel changes; the 42nd-Eighth Av/Port Authority side is rougher than the Times Square / Bryant Park side.
- 34th St-Penn Station, 34th St-Herald Square — busy, mixed; some late-night intoxication.
- 14th St-Union Square — major interchange; late-night thins faster than Times Square but stays reasonable.
- Atlantic Av-Barclays Center (Brooklyn) — large interchange; event-day crowds late.
- 125th St (2/3, 4/5/6) — Harlem entry. Late-night fine but a different feel than midtown.
- Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer, Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av (Queens) — major Queens interchanges with elevated incident rates.
- Stations to be alert at after midnight: outdoor elevated stations on the J/Z through Brooklyn, the A through Far Rockaway, the 7 through eastern Queens — quieter, more exposed. Indoor underground midtown stations stay busy late.
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