Yisroel R.

Three masked teenagers were arrested Tuesday morning after they tried to break into the conductor’s cab of a southbound F train in Brooklyn, adding to a growing pattern of subway incidents involving teens targeting train cabs, keys, and MTA equipment.

The incident happened around 11:30 a.m. as the train was entering the Bay Parkway station in Midwood. Police took three boys into custody, two 15-year-olds and one 16-year-old, after they were seen trying to get into the crew-only section of the train.

The case became more serious after sources said two of the teens were found with MTA subway keys. Those keys can give access to different parts of a subway train, including locked doors, panels, and crew areas, making the attempted break-in especially concerning for transit officials.

The arrests came less than a day after another incident nearby, when a D train conductor reported that one of his train keys had been stolen at the 55th Street station in Boro Park. In that case, someone tried to enter the conductor’s cab while the train was at the station.

As the conductor tried to stop the person from getting inside, another individual reached through the cab window from the platform and took a train-door key. Both individuals then left the station. Officials had not confirmed whether the Monday night key theft and Tuesday morning arrests were connected.

The latest cases come as the MTA continues dealing with a wider problem of teens breaking into subway trains and taking equipment. Earlier this month, a masked youth was caught on video cutting out a keyed door switch from a C train in Manhattan during rush hour. In another recent C train incident, a group of youths entered a rear control cab and stole a surveillance monitor from inside.

The MTA has already started adding stronger locks to some trains, including extra deadbolts on parts of the No. 7 line, as the agency looks for ways to stop unauthorized access to train cabs and equipment.

Transit officials have warned that these incidents are not harmless pranks. Subway keys, cab access, and train equipment are all tied to the safe operation of the system, and break-ins can lead to service delays, equipment damage, and serious danger for riders, workers, and the teens involved.