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Metro-North reports uptick in crime in 2014

Theresa Juva-Brown
tjuva@lohud.com
Commuters wait on the Metro-North station platform in White Plains. Metro-North reported an uptick in crime in 2014, driven mostly by a rise in stolen tools from railroad construction sites.

Metro-North Railroad saw a slight rise in major felonies last year, driven mostly by an increase in cases of tools stolen from railroad sites.

Last year, 153 major felonies on trains and railroad property were reported to Metropolitan Transportation Authority police. That's a 5 percent increase over 2013, when 146 cases were logged.

Among types of crimes, burglaries had the biggest jump, with 16 reported in 2014 compared with six in 2013, newly released statistics show.

Metro-North spokeswoman Marjorie Anders said many of the burglaries involved stolen tools from railroad construction sites. In three incidents, train station store employees who were fired returned to the shops and stole property, she said. Police made arrests in those cases.

Crimes against the railroad are not unusual. Last month, thieves stole copper cables from tracks in the Bronx, causing dozens of morning trains to be delayed as crews scrambled to make repairs. Here's a breakdown of some reported crimes against Metro-North passengers:

2014

2013

Robbery

20

17

Felony assault

13

13

Grand larceny

103

103

Rape/murder

0

1 rape

Metro-North leaders have said many grand larceny cases — items taken that are worth more than $1,000 — happen when passengers aren't watching their belongings.

Transit advocate and Dobbs Ferry native Jim Cameron said in general he feels safe on the railroad.

"I started riding the New York Central Hudson Division in 1964 — that's almost 50 years I've been riding commuter rail — and I've never been the victim of any kind of crime, and I've never known anyone who was," he said.

Still, people need to be cautious and not fall asleep with their cellphones in hand or bag unattended. They also should avoid riding late at night, if possible, he said.

"There is something to be said about in safety in numbers," he said. "As long as you are traveling during hours when other passengers are traveling, you are less likely to be a victim."

He also emphasized the importance of good lighting in station parking lots.

Do you worry about crime on Metro-North or at a particular station? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.

Twitter: @TJuva