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Metro Riders: Watch Your iPods

  • January 29th 2010

by Mark Wellborn

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Metro Riders: Watch Your iPods: Figure 1

Data released by Metro transit police recently shows that crime on the Metro system, specifically robberies, has increased significantly over the last two years, the Washington Examiner reports. In 2009, there were 805 robberies from January to November. That was up from 538 robberies in 2008 and over a 100 percent increase from the 397 robberies in 2007.

Small electronic devices like iPods, iPhones and cell phones are being blamed for the increase.

From the Washington Examiner:

In many cases, a robber will grab an iPod or cell phone from a rider just before train doors close at a Metro station, Delinski said. The crime isn’t reported until the victim reaches the next station and by then, the robber has gotten away.

The Examiner notes that transit police are now going undercover, acting as distracted riders in an effort to catch Metro robbers. In 2009, this resulted in 90 arrests.

For a list of the most crime ridden Metro parking lots, click here.

See other articles related to: crime, metro

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/metro_riders_watch_your_ipods/1731.

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