Metro reports that certain types of crime, particularly thefts of electronic devices and bicycles, dropped considerably over the first three months of 2014 when compared with the same period last year. Robberies of mobile phones and other devices are down 42 percent, and bike thefts dropped by 56 percent, according to a quarterly crime report presented to Metro’s board of directors Thursday morning.
Transit police reported 79 robberies of phones, tablets, and computers between January and March, down from 137 a year earlier, a drop that Metro officials credit to “increased customer awareness” and more police activity. Violent and armed robberies are also down from 121 in the first three months of 2013 to 55 this year.
Metro is applauding its own increased policing efforts as one of the principal reasons crime is down, but there’s another possible explanation. The first three months of 2014 brought the heaviest winter weather Washington has experienced since 2010, with multiple snow days for government workers dragging down ridership numbers.
But one area where Metro has made no statistical progress is reports of sexual harassment. The ten instances of sexual harassment reported by people using the transit agency’s online reporting tool in the first quarter of 2014 matches the first quarter of 2013.
Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.
Metro Reports Big Drop in Crime in Early Months of 2014
Thefts of electronic devices and bikes are way down, but no change in the number of sexual harassment reports.
Metro reports that certain types of crime, particularly thefts of electronic devices and bicycles, dropped considerably over the first three months of 2014 when compared with the same period last year. Robberies of mobile phones and other devices are down 42 percent, and bike thefts dropped by 56 percent, according to a quarterly crime report presented to Metro’s board of directors Thursday morning.
Transit police reported 79 robberies of phones, tablets, and computers between January and March, down from 137 a year earlier, a drop that Metro officials credit to “increased customer awareness” and more police activity. Violent and armed robberies are also down from 121 in the first three months of 2013 to 55 this year.
Metro is applauding its own increased policing efforts as one of the principal reasons crime is down, but there’s another possible explanation. The first three months of 2014 brought the heaviest winter weather Washington has experienced since 2010, with multiple snow days for government workers dragging down ridership numbers.
But one area where Metro has made no statistical progress is reports of sexual harassment. The ten instances of sexual harassment reported by people using the transit agency’s online reporting tool in the first quarter of 2014 matches the first quarter of 2013.
Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.
Most Popular in News & Politics
The Missing Men of Mount Pleasant
Another Mysterious Anti-Trump Statue Has Appeared on the National Mall
Muriel Bowser Defends Her BLM Plaza Decision and Looks Back on a Decade as Mayor
Yet Another Anti-Trump Statue Has Shown Up on the National Mall
8 Takeaways From Usha Vance’s Interview With Meghan McCain
Washingtonian Magazine
July Issue: The "Best Of" Issue
View IssueSubscribe
Follow Us on Social
Follow Us on Social
Related
How Would a New DC Stadium Compare to the Last One?
The Culture of Lacrosse Is More Complex Than People Think
“Mean Mugging” at Ward 8 Candidate Forum Leads to Arrest
Did Television Begin in Dupont Circle?
More from News & Politics
Guest List: 5 People We’d Love to Hang Out With This July
The Washington Nationals Just Fired the Manager and GM Who Led Them to a Championship. Why Has the Team Been so Bad Since?
FBI Building Now on Track to Leave DC After All, Whistleblower Leaks Texts Suggesting Justice Department Planned to Blow Off Federal Court Orders, and NPS Cuts Leave Assateague Island Without Lifeguards
Families of DC Air Disaster Victims Criticize Army’s Response, Trump Settles His Scores Via Tariff, and Police Dog Kicked at Dulles Returns to Work
This DC-Area Lawyer Wants More Americans Betting on Elections
Trump Threatens DC Takeover, Says He’d Run the City “So Good”; Supreme Court OKs Mass Federal Worker Layoffs; and You Should Go Pick Some Sunflowers
Trump Pledges Support for RFK Stadium Plan, Ben’s Chili Bowl Will Strand Us Half-Smokeless for Months, and Pediatricians Are Suing RFK Jr.
Muriel Bowser Defends Her BLM Plaza Decision and Looks Back on a Decade as Mayor