Despite concerns that transit riders waiting at stops may be easy targets for criminals, the monthly average of thefts in the Metro Transit System is down from 25 per month in 2013 to 20 per month so far in 2014.

John Siqveland, Metro Transit public relations manager, said although cellphone thefts have been the fastest growing type of crime in the past few years, the latest Metro Transit numbers look positive.

“This year, there’s some encouraging results through the first quarter with thefts down about 15 percent,” Siqveland said.

Although metro bus and train stops might make easy targets out of commuters, St. Thomas Public Safety Crime Prevention Sgt. Wells Farnham said it is not a trend he sees around the university.

“Not a huge occurrence of this around the St. Paul campus,” Farnham said. “Nonetheless, community members shouldn’t take their safety, and the safety of their property, for granted whether out in front of the student center or Minneapolis.”

Sophomore Stephanie Koehne was a victim of theft in March.

“I got robbed on the (Metro Transit) bus last month, and it was basically a nightmare,” Koehne said. “I don’t even really know how it happened.”

Koehne said she’s had “a few bad situations on the bus,” but she has realized the importance of being aware.

“I’ve learned to never take out valuables, look at my wallet or be too engrossed in a book or anything like that,” Koehne said. “You really need to keep your eyes out and make sure you’re not being naïve.”

Siqveland said these are largely “grab-and-go” type of thefts that can happen anywhere in public. He said people who have their cell phones out are easy targets for opportunistic thieves.

In 2009, Metro Transit began responding to the upward trend in thefts targeting public transportation.

These efforts included increasing communication, patrol and surveillance, and, despite the decreased numbers, Siqveland emphasized that riders should remain attentive when using Metro Transit.

“We advise our customers, particularly when standing near vehicle doors, to make sure of your surroundings,” Siqveland said. “Secure your phone, your iPad, your electronic device so as not to be a victim of an opportunistic crime like that.”

In a Metro Transit employee newsletter, General Manager Brian Lamb said the company will keep working to reduce thefts around their system.

“Mobile devices and transit are a natural fit, and we will continue focusing on enforcement, investigations and commonsense education for our customers,” Lamb said.

Molly Sigler can be reached at sigl1215@stthomas.edu.