Lushworkers: Characteristics of Offenders Who Prey upon Sleeping and Drunk Passengers in the NYC Transit System

• In Event: Prevalence, Characteristics, and Prevention of Property and Economic Offenses

Abstract

Through an analysis of 40 offenders identified by the NYPD's Transit Bureau as "Lushworkers", that is, offenders who prey upon sleeping passengers by removing their property from their person by cutting their pockets with razor blades, characteristics of offenders have been identified. These offenders, by criminal justice standards are extremely old, demonstrated by entry into this niche offending style to begin at 35 years of age. The analysis determined no cessation in this specific offending style with current offenders well into their 70s still continuing this trade.

Author

• Andrew Costello, NYIT