The next time you hop on the “L,” watch your wallet.
Theft, the most frequently reported crime on the CTA, rose in 2004, according to figures released by the Chicago Police Department. There were 1,206 incidents of theft on the buses, trains and train platforms last year, 67 more than in 2003.
Total reported crimes on the CTA, including a new category for incidents in CTA parking lots and other property, increased to 1,858 in 2004 from 1,700 in 2003.
“Consider the ridership versus the reported amount of incidents–it’s still one of the safest systems in the country,” police spokesman Patrick Camden said.
The CTA provides 1.4 million rides a day or around 500 million a year.
“Most crimes that are happening are thefts. Thefts happen because of an opportunity, so you need to eliminate the opportunity,” Camden said.
Police and other safety experts suggest women keep their purses in front of them, closed, and men keep their wallets in a front, inside pocket.
“It’s a very simple crime,” said Bob Arno, who calls himself a “professor of pickpocketry.” He instructs police departments around the country on techniques to spot thieves and wrote a book on the subject.
“Most of the time victims say, ‘I didn’t feel anything. I had no idea.’ Their guard was down,” Arno said. “It’s nearly like paying a stupidity tax–it’s that simple to stop.”
But having your pocket picked isn’t just a question of stolen cash–the more serious problem is a stolen identity.
“It used to be people would take the money and throw away the wallet, now they sell the wallet for credit cards and Social security information,” Camden said.
Police and CTA officials urge transit users to avoid pickpocketers by staying alert, keeping bags on your arm or under your arm and not displaying expensive jewelry.
Although CTA crime increased last year, crime on the system is still down over the past several years, agency spokeswoman Noelle Gaffney said. Total crimes dropped to 1,627 in 2004 from 2,394 in 1997, not including crimes in CTA parking lots or other property, which the police started adding to the count in 2003.
The decrease is due, in part, to more security spending, Gaffney said. Since 9/11, the CTA’s security budget rose 54 percent. The added funds help pay for off-duty police officers to patrol the system. Other safety initiatives include security cameras on all buses, call buttons on all rail cars, and renovated stations with brighter lighting and a center platform.
– – –
%%
CTA crime stats
BUS 2004 2003
Homicide 1 0
Sexual assault 0 0
Robberies 56 35
Agg. battery 57 45
Agg. assaults 25 24
Burglary 1 0
Thefts 324 304
Total 464 408
‘L’ TRAIN 2004 2003
Homicide 0 1
Sexual assault 0 0
Robberies 89 88
Agg. battery 8 5
Agg. assaults 7 4
Burglary 0 0
Thefts 572 515
Total 676 613
‘L’ PLATFORM 2004 2003
Homicide 0 0
Sexual assault 1 1
Robberies 130 117
Agg. battery 30 30
Agg. assaults 16 15
Burglary 0 7
Thefts 310 320
Total 487 490
PARKING LOTS* 2004 2003
Homicide 1 0
Sexual assault 2 2
Robberies 27 18
Agg. battery 1 6
Agg. assaults 4 1
Burglary 7 3
Thefts 173 149
Auto theft 16 10
Total 231 189
%%
*Includes other CTA properties.
What it all means
– A robbery involves the use of violence, or the threat of violence, to steal something (i.e., mugging someone).
– A theft occurs when someone steals something without violence or a threat (i.e., picking your pocket).
– A burglary involves breaking into property with the intent of committing a crime.
Source: CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT
———-
asneumer@tribune.com
Edited by Lara Weber (lweber@tribune.com) and Drew Sottardi (dsottardi@tribune.com)
