Subway crime is skyrocketing despite a plunge in ridership during the coronavirus crisis — forcing the MTA to call in outside contractors for backup, according to sources.
March saw 51 robberies across the 472-station subway system — compared to 33 the previous year, according to NYPD stats, and a mere 3.4 percent drop in overall major felonies.
The surge came as ridership dropped to nearly 90 percent pre-crisis levels, and while the MTA and NYPD struggled with virus-induced personnel shortages.
As of Sunday evening, 5,055 NYPD personnel were still out of work due to the virus.
To cope, the MTA has deployed 70 privately-contracted security guards to city transit, and plans to add more “as needed,” a senior MTA source told The Post, confirming a report from The City.
The security contractors are meant to serve as extra “eyes and ears,” not additional law enforcement, the source said.
Transit officials have also redeployed the MTA’s own in-house cops to subways from the commuter railroads.
An MTA source said transit officials even weighed asking for help from the National Guard, but it was “quickly dismissed” as not the “right fit.” State police were also considered, sources said.
Citywide stats released Monday show that crime after March 12 was down year-over-year in every category except burglary and auto theft, which increased by 45 and 95 percent, respectively.
