For the past few years, as smartphones, Kindles and iPads have become ubiquitous in society, they have invaded the subways. As I observe straphangers during my morning commutes, I’ve noticed how Kindles often outnumber books, and more people are reading the paper on their eReaders than in hard copy. It’s the wave of the future.
A few weeks ago, as I stood on my 3 train en route from Grand Army Plaza to Nevins St., I stood against the door reading The Times on my iPad as a cop stood next to me. In a friendly tone, he told me to guard my iPad because they are the number one item stolen on the subways. I politely thanked him and told him I knew the stats. I, along with many others on my car, went back to my digital newspaper.
Now, I and my fellow straphanger police officer are not the only ones who have noticed this increase in the number of eReaders underground. Thieves have as well, and over the past few years, we’ve heard multiple stories about how subway robbers are targeting smartphones and other electronic devices. One time-tested method involves the grab-and-dash. Thieves will pick a victim sitting close to a door who is seemingly paying more attention to their iPad than their surroundings. As the train pulls into a new station, the thief will grab the device and dash out of the train, leaving behind a electronics-less victim with little hope of catching the perpetrator.
This week, as the MTA Board committees gear up for their monthly meetings, the MTA has released a new set of data showcasing how these types of robberies are on the upswing. As the NYPD reports, reported grand larcenies for January 2012 were up by 42.2 percent over January 2011. Of course, with 155 reported larcenies, those numbers are still incredibly low. Average weekday ridership is over 5.4 million people so the chances of being a victim of such a grand larceny are slim.
Back in October of 2010, I noticed how New Yorkers these days ride obliviously. As a child of the 1980s, I remember when people were loath to ride the subways let alone flash their iPods, iPhones and Kindles. We take for granted the fact that the subways are safe, and even with grand larceny totals are rising, we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that they are still essentially safe. Very few people are the victims of reported thefts, and the subways are safer. Even without station agents, rapes and murders are both at zero, and felony assaults are down too. With headlines talking about crime increases, we should ride carefully but not with a tinge of paranoia.
Meanwhile, subway ridership too is up significantly. According to the latest numbers from the MTA, total subway ridership last year hit 1.64 billion, and the authority says it’s the highest total since 1950. Average weekday ridership hit 5.3 million, the highest total since 1951, and combined Saturday and Sunday ridership was 5.4 million, the highest weekend total since 1947. As fares go up and service levels are cut, as cleaners vanish and station agents are cut back, people are riding the subways. Now if only someone in Albany would listen to the interests of the riders.
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