A TTC rider says she has no faith in the transit system, police and even fellow residents after being attacked and robbed in a subway station and receiving little to no help.
TikTok user @hxnicho, who identified herself as Hannah, posted a video earlier this week sharing details about how she was assaulted at Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station on Christmas Eve.
At around 6 p.m., Hannah said she was exiting the train onto the platform and noticed a young woman “tailing” her.
As Hannah was exiting at the turnstiles, she turned around and asked the woman if everything was OK or if she needed help with anything, to which the woman responded no.
“Immediately after I hear a smack to the back of my head and I feel a punch to my mouth. This happened at the doors to tap your card to get in, in front of three TTC employees and several people as they were exiting to get out of the station,” Hannah said in the video.
The woman proceeded to steal Hannah’s phone and ran away, while Hannah was left with a bloody mouth.
Left in shock, Hannah started screaming and started running after the woman to stop her and get her cellphone back.
Hannah said she eventually lost sight of the suspect and reported the incident to TTC staff.
“I’m hyperventilating because I’m worried. The last thing I said to my mom on the phone was I think I’m being followed. The TTC employees are telling me that I’m not allowed to enter the ticket office to use their phone because I’m not an employee,” she shared in the video.
Then Hannah saw the woman tap her card to re-enter the station and started screaming to alert others about the suspect.
“Nobody does anything. They’re like, ‘Oh, we can’t approach her.’ But she stops before going down the escalator to the platform because I’m making such a scene in front of other people. She unzips her purse and flings my phone at me and goes, ‘Here’s your phone, stop being so dramatic.’”
Hannah then followed the suspect to the platform and held the train doors open to stop it from departing and to bring attention to the suspect.
“I start yelling at everyone like, ‘That stranger over there did this (while pointing to her face), she assaulted me for an iphone 14. Imagine what she’ll do to you or your kid for an iphone 15.’”
Hannah added that everyone on the train “just stared at her blinking.”
After being asked by the train operator to stop obstructing the doors, Hannah left the platform and the train proceeded southbound to Toronto with the suspect on it.
York Regional Police (YRP) described the suspect as a Black female, about 19 years old, with a medium skin tone, a thin build, dark brown hair tied in a bun, and was wearing a brown jacket and black leggings.
Hannah said police arrived shortly after the incident to take her statement and told her that because it’s the holidays it would take roughly 30 days to obtain surveillance footage from the TTC.
“During the incident, they told me an arrest would be difficult, there is a 50/50 per cent chance she’d be arrested, although they had access to her location/the train car she was on in real time,” Hannah said in a statement to Now Toronto.
POLICE INVESTIGATING
The TTC said it is aware of the incident and will assist police with their investigation.
“We’re aware of this horrible assault and, like everyone, we are concerned about any incident of violence on our property,” TTC spokesperson Stuart Green said in a statement to Now Toronto.
“This was reported by stations staff as is proper protocol and, as always, we will assist police in any investigation, including providing video if it was requested,” he added.
YRP confirmed to Now Toronto that they’re investigating and recommended some safety tips for those travelling on the TTC.
“York Regional Police recommends that people remain aware of their surroundings. Keep valuables concealed while in public. Be wary of strangers trying to get close to you. Trust your instincts. If you see something suspicious or are concerned for your safety, call police,” Sgt. Clint Whitney said in a statement.
He added that if you’re a victim of a robbery or assault call police as soon as possible, and if you witness a crime “call 9-1-1 right away, provide as much information as possible and render assistance to the victim if it’s safe to do so.”
NO FAITH IN TTC, POLICE OR RESIDENTS
Hannah said she is left feeling “extremely traumatized” both physically and mentally after the attack.
“In the video I mentioned she punched me in the face, which left me with a mouth full of blood, but I have also now visited the hospital for symptoms of a minor concussion and trauma to the head,” she told Now Toronto.
She added that she no longer feels safe using the transit system, and was shocked by the lack of help from witnesses.
“I have no faith in the TTC, Toronto residents or the York Regional Police/Toronto Police Force. I do not believe additional policing had contributed to my safety/obtaining justice against my assailant. The TTC is not safe, I have experienced harassment several times but have never been physically attacked until now,” she said.
“I wish bystanders had filmed or pulled the emergency stop/yellow strip when I alerted them and pointed her out on the train car and in the station. I wish they had called for help, or alerted 911. I wish the TTC employees, specifically the security had stopped her given they had multiple opportunities to intervene and she did not demonstrate she was armed,” she added.
Hannah said she will not be using the TTC going forward but said she will carry mace with her for self-defence if she has to use the transit system.
At the end of her video, Hannah warned others that if this situation were to happen to them, prepare to receive no help.
“I want you all to know, when you get attacked no one will do anything to help you. Not the other people on the train, not the transit employees, not the police, nobody will help you, you’re on your own.”
