Public Transportation Safety

Persons riding on public transportation need to be alert and exercise common sense precautions.  The following are safety tips for patrons of public transportation:

• First and foremost, plan the trip.
• Advise a family member, friend, or co-worker of your travel route and time.  Call them upon safe arrival.  
• Have the exact fare ready before you leave home, the office, or a store.   
• Use the busiest, best-lit stop possible both to get on and get off a bus.  While waiting, stay near the attendants stand or in the best-lit area available.
• Find a seat on an aisle if possible.  This allows better observation of activities, and avoids being boxed in against the window.
• Sit near the driver or operator, if possible, but avoid sitting right next to the door. Thieves may try to snatch jewelry or personal belongings from people near the door and exit quickly.
• Don't doze off on the bus or become too engrossed in a book.  It makes for an easy target.
• Do not leave purses, shopping bags, backpacks, packages or other belongings on an empty seat.  Keep purses, shopping bags, backpacks, and packages in your lap, on your arm, or in between your feet.
• Avoid displaying expensive looking watches, rings, necklaces, or any other jewelry.  
• Be wary of noisy passengers arguing or causing a commotion.  This could be staged to distract you while others are trying to steal your valuables.
• Observe the behavior of other passengers.  If you feel uneasy or threatened, change your seat or alert the driver.
• If at all possible, minimize the chances of losing your property by avoiding crowded buses.