By Chicago Times Magazine –

January 13, 2026

The Metra Police Department announced the arrest of two Chicago men on Thursday in connection with a string of burglaries targeting ticket vending machines at Metra Electric and South Shore stations.

Torrence Bradley, 35, and Jujuan Fells, 34, were taken into custody following a focused investigation into five separate incidents that occurred between Jan. 3 and Jan. 8, 2026.

According to investigators, the pair used force to breach the vending units, resulting in what officials described as “significant structural damage” to the transit equipment. While Metra officials confirmed that currency was stolen during the spree, the exact amount of cash taken remains undisclosed.

Bradley has been charged with four counts of burglary, four counts of criminal damage to property, one count of attempted burglary, and one count of unlawful possession of burglary tools. Fells faces two counts of burglary and one count of criminal damage to property.

While this incident has drawn attention to property crime within the transit network, transit advocates and safety experts note that Metra continues to maintain a reputation for being significantly safer than the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) “L” system.

Riders often point to Metra’s operational model—which includes a dedicated police force and the constant presence of conductors on every train—as a primary deterrent for the types of violent crime and antisocial behavior more frequently reported on the CTA.