Token Suckers Robbed Subway Turnstiles

During New York City's subway-token era, thieves called "token suckers" jammed turnstile slots with paper or gum wrappers and waited for commuters to insert their fares. When the blocked turnstile rejected a rider, the thief placed their mouth over the slot and sucked out the trapped token. Some booth attendants fought back by sprinkling chili powder into frequently jammed slots, and the scam disappeared after MetroCards replaced subway tokens in 2003.

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