Robberies on the Metro system have spiked almost 40 percent this year from last year, the transit agency’s mid year crime statistics show.
There were 272 robberies reported to Metro Transit Police in the first six months of 2008, a 38 percent jump from the 197 reported during the same period in 2007.
While aggravated assaults and attempted motor vehicle thefts have dropped slightly, the dramatic jump in robberies — defined as taking something by force or intimidation — and a slight climb in auto thefts have raised the transit system’s overall crime rate.
Larcenies, defined as thefts of personal property that do not involve force or intimidation, are up 12 percent from last year.
“We’re still experiencing, in perspective, a large amount of robberies,” Metro Deputy Transit Police Chief Jeff Delinski said, noting that many involve thefts of portable electronics such as iPods and cell phones — a national trend that also has appeared in surrounding jurisdictions.
The thefts range from pickpockets to “snatch-and-grabs” to more serious encounters involving a weapon, officials said.
Pickpockets occur often during heavy-ridership events, including Washington Nationals games and the Cherry Blossom Festival, Delinski said.
Metro has arrested 33 people on robbery charges this year, including 16 juveniles. Most of those robberies involved weapons.
While any spike in crime is noteworthy, Metro crime rate remains low. Metro riders are 15 times less likely to be a victim of serious crime in the transit system than when walking in the surrounding jurisdictions, Transit Police Chief Michael Taborn said in April.
Transit police also are cautioning riders to remove any sign of portable electronics or even small change from their cars after seeing a jump in thefts from cars in Metro parking lots.
