NEW YORK -- New York City Transit wants to catch graffiti artists in the act -- and on camera.

The agency plans to test surveillance cameras on two trains to see how well they work in deterring or apprehending graffiti artists.

The agency's president, Howard Roberts, said anyone with an acid pen and 15 minutes can "destroy about $8,000 worth of glass."

Roberts said the pilot plan will start next year.

A spokesman for the agency said it costs about $1.4 million a year to remove ink and paint graffiti from subway trains.

It's not clear how much the city has had to pay to fix windows because of the acid etching.