NYPD Undercovers On The Subways To Act Drunk, Asleep To Lure Thieves

Subway crime in New York City is up 16.6 percent from last year thanks in large part to thieves' penchant for iPhones, iPods and iPads. As of August, 1000 straphangers were the victims of robberies in 2011, a 27 percent jump from August 2010.

Addressing the problem, the NYPD's expected to announce plans at an MTA meeting Monday night to double the amount of undercover cops riding the subway. The New York Post explains, "The extra cops are wrapping up a five-day training program in which they have been taught how to behave like preferred targets -- passengers who are knock-down drunk or asleep."

The NYPD of course, is already well-practiced at getting knock-down drunk, and at sleeping on the job, so we're sure they'll be effective decoys and lure many a greedy thief.

Let's also hope, however, that they can also prevent other serious subway crime, catching some of the subway gropers, flashers and knife-wielding madmen.