Metro News Release

For immediate release: October 12, 2006

Metro steps up enforcement to battle rise in crime

Metro Transit Police report serious crime is up in the rail and bus system, and so are arrests.

Transit Police report a 4 percent increase in Part I crimes, which includes assaults, burglaries, thefts and robberies, during the first nine months of the year compared to last year. The only exception was auto thefts, which dropped 18 percent. At the same time, arrests were up more than 27 percent. Police released the numbers today to coincide with crime prevention month.

“The increases are a reflection of the trends seen in the Washington region and the rest of the country. There has been an increase in ridership as well. However, it’s important to remember that crime on Metrorail and Metrobus is low overall with less than two crimes reported per million passengers,” said Metro Transit Police Chief Polly Hanson.

Transit Police recorded 899 Part I crimes during the first nine months of the year, compared with 862 during the same period last year. In addition to the crimes reported by Metro Transit Police, local police agencies so far have reported 27 additional crimes on Metro property. Other area police departments sometimes respond to and take police reports for incidents that occur on Metro property.

Police noticed an increase in crime in June and by the end of August, crime was up 11 percent over an eight month period. Hanson said stepping up visibility and enforcement has helped to lower the numbers. Police reported a 78 percent jump in written warnings and a 17 percent increase in citations and summonses. Hanson noted rail and bus ridership also grew about 4 percent during the first nine months of the year compared to last year. There was also an 18 percent jump in calls for police assistance.

Police say the increase in enforcement also lead to a rise in the number of reported lesser, or Part II, offenses, such as fare evasion. There were a total of 2,565 reported Part II offenses compared to 1,975 between January and September – a 30 percent increase.

Transit police will continue stepped up enforcement efforts in October during crime prevention month. More officers will continue to patrol the system. The department also plans a variety of activities, including officers handing out “Late Night Travel Tips” at select stations and auto theft information to customers. Police also will focus on pickpocket prevention and improved lighting in certain areas.

Additional crime prevention and safety information can be found at www.metroopensdoors.com.

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News release issued on October 12, 2006.