Man Arrested 32 Times for Perfectly Operating Stolen NYC Trains and Buses

Darius McCollum has been arrested 32 times for impersonating New York City bus drivers and subway conductors and driving their routes.

He has never hurt anyone or caused damage.

McCollum memorized the New York City subway map by age 8 and began skipping school to ride the network for days at a time after being stabbed by a classmate at 11.

At 15, he took unauthorized control of a packed train and drove it eight stops by himself, making all the stops and announcements.

A Pattern Spanning Decades

He estimates he's stolen more than 1,000 buses and more than 5,000 subway and commuter rail trains, often by impersonating motormen or bus drivers.

McCollum has been diagnosed with autism and became a folk hero to people with autism spectrum disorders, celebrated for his rebellion against what they call the "dreary world of the neurotypicals."

The MTA has rejected McCollum for employment on numerous occasions, though some claim his knowledge over-qualifies him for the positions.

Expert Recognition

No incidents occurred during his unauthorized operations because he knew the job better than actual MTA employees.

Homeland Security visited him in prison to learn from his expertise on how to prevent others from impersonating transit employees.

McCollum's defense lawyer Sally Butler called him "a New York hero" and said passengers "love him."

Current Status

A judge ruled that McCollum was becoming dangerously mentally ill and sentenced him to Rochester Forensic Psychiatric Hospital, a facility for the most dangerous imprisoned criminals.

Most recently, McCollum was moved to a facility for nonviolent offenders.

He had requested help for years instead of repeated imprisonment for his compulsive behavior that never harmed anyone.