Subway Crime is Down This Year (So Far)

Subway crime is down 16% for 2003 (through August). NY has only had 2,072 felonies (average 8/day) in the subway system - 387 less than last year. - Robberies declined by 7% to 769
- Assaults dropped 9% to 173
- Burglaries fell to seven from 12, or 42%
- Rapes rose, from none to 2
The NYPD attributes the drop in crime to being able to monitor career pickpockets and subway smokers as well as recently paroled or released criminals - cops radio the Brooklyn police operators to run background checks.
MTA chairman Peter Kalikow says, "You're safer down there than you are upstairs in a lot of places."