Chicago Transit Authority crime drops in 2014

Daily file photo by Sean Su

An inbound CTA train arrives at the Foster Street stop. Serious crimes at CTA stations and on CTA vehicles dropped during 2014.

Stephanie Kelly, City Editor

Serious crimes at Chicago Transit Authority stations and on CTA vehicles fell 26 percent and theft and robberies fell 28 percent in 2014, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the CTA announced Tuesday.

Emanuel, the CTA and the Chicago Police Department have increased security cameras to more than 23,000 cameras and expanded police patrols, rail saturation missions and increased undercover operations to decrease crime in CTA buses, trains and stations, according to the CTA.

“Over the past three and a half years we have developed and implemented an aggressive plan to fight crime and increase safety on the CTA by adding thousands of security cameras and strengthening policing strategies,” Emanuel said in the CTA news release. “We are committed to the safety of every Chicagoan who takes public transportation, we are sending the message that we will not tolerate criminal activity, and we are seeing the results.”

Robberies have decreased 34 percent, while thefts have decreased 26 percent. In 2014, CTA buses had their lowest rate of serious crimes in the past four years.

“By working closely with the Chicago Police Department and continuing our investment in security technology, we have been able to increase arrests with the aid of state-of-the-art video and provide a more secure environment for everyone,” said CTA President Forrest Claypool.

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