A rise in theft drove an overall increase in subway crime in May compared to April, according to newly released NYPD stats.

NYPD Transit Chief Jason Wilcox said an increase in ridership was putting purses, neck chains, phones and other handheld items at greater risk of theft — particularly during the overnight hours.

“We have seen increases in hand snatches, primarily cellphones, but also some neck chains as well, and increases in possible pickpocket incidents,” Wilcox told MTA board members during their Monday transit committee meeting.

May saw 219 total felonies underground — including 108 grand larcenies, 55 felony assaults and 54 robberies, according to NYPD figures. For comparison, in April NYPD reported 176 felonies, including 49 assaults, 47 robberies and 77 grand larcenies.

Wilcox said there has been a “significant” increase of 200% more larceny incidents in the overnight hours “in which riders fall asleep and wake up with items missing.”

Nighttime thefts account for a quarter of total grand larcenies, Wilcox said.

“We are focusing on this type of crime. Our detectives are investigating these crimes,” Wilcox said. “But we also ask riders to be more vigilant in this area when they travel the trains late at night.”

Subway crime rates have soared since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic — from 1.47 felonies per million riders in 2019 to 2.11 felonies per million riders in April 2022, according to NYPD and MTA figures.

May saw an overall increase in ridership, and the rate of crimes per million riders was again around 2.1, according to the new NYPD figures.

Transit officials announced last week that they’d begun rolling out cameras on train cars, where 53% of major crimes occur.

The initial rollout will encompass 100 train cars, according to officials. The in-train cameras operate on a closed loop and allow NYPD to access footage manually for up to seven days, officials said on Monday.

Additional reporting by M’Niyah Lynn