Metro News Release
For immediate release: October 4, 2006
Metro Transit Police target wireless users for crime prevention tips
ID stickers for electronics to be distributed during Crime Prevention Month
Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) officers will target cell phone, MP3 and PDA users at two crime prevention outreach sessions this month as part of October’s National Crime Prevention Month activities.
Tomorrow, October 5, MTPD officers will distribute crime prevention information and identification decals for portable electronic devices to Metrorail riders at the Farragut North Metrorail at 4 p.m. The second outreach session will take place at the Clarendon Metrorail station on Tuesday, October 17 at noon.
Transit Police are targeting riders who tune in to their portable music players, use cell phones or send e-mail on their hand-held personal digital assistants (PDAs) because often they are not paying attention to what’s going on around them. MTPD wants to emphasize the importance of remaining aware and alert at all times, and protecting personal belongings such as phones, music players, purses and wallets while traveling on Metro.
During the outreach sessions at Farragut North and Clarendon stations, Transit Police officers will distribute identification decals for rider to affix to their electronic devices. After placing the decals on their electronic devices, riders need to register them in a national database. This system will make it easier to track or recover a lost or stolen item.
Crime on the Metro system remains low and thefts of iPods have not presented a major problem for riders. In the first nine months of 2006 riders have reported 16 stolen iPods.
“With more and more people taking Metro these days, it is important for riders to watch what’s going on around them, especially when they’re using their cell phones and PDAs or listening to music,” said Metro Transit Police Sergeant Warren Donald, who also heads up the Rail Anti-Crime Target Squad (RATS). “We want all of our riders to remain safe and enjoy their ride on Metrorail and Metrobus.”
The Metro Transit Police would like to remind everyone of the following personal safety tips when using riding Metro:
• Always be alert of your surroundings and the people around you.
• If using an electronic device, such as a cell phone, MP-3 or portable music player, please use the device at a low to moderate decibel level.
• If using an MP-3, or portable music player, use black headphones instead of white headphones to make them less noticeable and try to clutch the item inside a backpack, purse or jacket.
• Avoid talking to strangers, especially in isolated areas.
• If carrying a purse, hold it tightly, and close to your body.
• If carrying a wallet, keep it in your front pocket.
• If you notice unusual behavior, unattended packages or anything that seems suspicious, call the Metro Transit Police at 202-962-2121 or tell a Metro employee.
News release issued on October 4, 2006.