NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- The MTA on Monday announced it is offering a $10,000 reward for the arrest and indictment of the person breaking windows on 7 trains.So far, there have been over 70 incidents since May with more than 400 windows smashed, with the latest incident happening on Monday.The vandalism occurred on a 7 train at the 34th Street - Hudson Yards station.According to the MTA, over $300,000 in damage and numerous delays has been caused byt the vandal or vandals during a time when its budget is depleated.53 incidents have occurred in Manhattan, 14 in Queens, two in Brooklyn and one in the Bronx.The $10,000 reward will be added to the NYPD Crime Stoppers' $2,500 reward for a total of $12,500.
RELATED:"This takes considerable force," MTA chief safety officer Pat Warren said. "This has to be done with a blunt instrument of some kind. A hammer, a pipe, a baseball bat. Something significant."Earlier this month, the MTA said so many windows have been broken it is running out of replacements which could force the agency to reduce service."These vandals don't have the respect for our riders and those essential workers that depend on this service to get them back and forth to work," Warren added.MTA says they do not know why there has suddenly been "a considerable" uptick in vandalism.Most of the window-smashing has occurred during low traffic hours when passengers are not on the trains but officials are still trying to figure out exactly when and where it is occurring."We plead to everybody put on your little detective shields if you see something, say something, certainly make us aware of it and we have the greatest detectives in the world that'll ultimately bring it all together," said Inspector Jason Savino with the NYPD Central Robbery Division.Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).
