Go, Go Gadget... Theft? Metro Sees a Spike in Phone, Tablet Snatches

By Shaun Courtney

Metro Transit Police Chief Ron Pavlik on Thursday urged riders to be cautious when using electronic devices on the train due to a recent spike in thefts.

Metro recorded a 48 percent increase in thefts during the two-week period ending Aug. 7 over the previous two weeks. During the most recent reporting period, there were 40 reported snatches of items including iPhones, iPads, Kindles and Android phones.

"We are not waiting to see if this becomes a trend," Pavlik said in a statement. "We are taking immediate, proactive steps to protect the riding public, but we also need riders to do their part."

Transit police monitor crimes and move resources in response, according to a news release. Undercover officers use decoy devices while on the Metro and arrest any thieves who try to steal them. 

But Pavlik urged riders to prevent crimes of opportunity by being alert and smart about their device use. Many crimes happen to passengers near train doorways and even on escalators — anywhere thieves can make a quick escape.

"The best advice is to keep your device out of sight, but if you do choose to use it, maintain constant awareness of what's happening around you," he said. 

Additionally, he advised passengers to set up tracking software for their devices to help officers find a phone or remotely wipe personal information to prevent a thief from using it for additional illegal activity. 

Metro provided the following snatch theft information:

• More than two thirds of snatch theft victims are women. Most suspects are male (95 percent), and 82 percent of the suspects are believed to young adults between the ages of 14 and 20.
• Nearly 60 percent of all snatches involve Apple iPhone devices. 
• Snatch thefts can occur at any time — on a platform, outside the station, or even in the middle of a rail car. Roughly 87 percent of all snatch thefts occur within the Metrorail system. Snatches on Metrobus account for about 13 percent of the total.