South Loop safety meeting zeros in on CTA crime, which is up compared to last year

The assembly got here on the heels of greater than half a dozen violent incidents on or close to CTA property in simply the final week or so.

MORE: Man shot after argument on CTA bus, police say

“I used to take the orange line and the blue out to the airports. I do not try this anymore. It is simply, it does not appear to be a secure scenario,” stated Lisa Antonio, CTA rider.

The incidents have included stabbings, a taking pictures, and an assault on a CTA prepare operator who was shoved on the tracks.

Man stabbed throughout struggle close to Pink Line cease, police say

Tuesday night time a person was punched within the mouth whereas standing close to a Northwest Facet bus cease.

“Crime, most of it’s rail-related. Most of it’s after 6 p.m. Most of it’s within the subway,” stated Kevin Ryan, vp of safety for CTA.

READ MORE: Man discovered overwhelmed, studies of harassment at Loop CTA stations

“We now have put extra sources. We now have narcotics groups engaged on public transportation. We now have gang enforcement groups engaged on public transportation each single day engaged on missions,” stated Cmdr. Joe Chicken, Chicago Police Public Transportation Part.

To date this 12 months, CTA-related crime has elevated 40 % in comparison with the identical interval final 12 months. Battery is up 60 %, and theft is up 80 %. Although crime is up from final 12 months, officers say the variety of legal incidents are about half of what they have been pre-pandemic

In March CTA introduced it was including extra unarmed safety guards on trains and buses, however they’ve but to be deployed totally.

“We’re rolling them out,” Ryan stated. “They should be skilled. We won’t simply say, OK, you have bought the contract. You are out on the system.”