Theft from Passengers
Thefts from passengers make up a large
majority of crimes committed against passengers on rail,
underground and bus systems. These can occur on buses and
trains, at stations and bus stops, and on the way to and from
public transport facilities. Research on underground and bus
systems finds that these thefts are concentrated at a small
number of stations and bus stops, particularly at and around
central shopping and tourist areas.
Thefts from the person are committed in two
main ways. Firstly, stealth thefts involve the covert taking
of items from passengers (e.g. pick pocketing). Secondly,
snatch thefts involve the snatching of property and a quick
escape from the passenger or any pursuing persons (e.g.
handbag snatch). Women are particularly susceptible to purse
and jewellery snatchings, and thefts committed by opening
bags, while men are more susceptible to pick pocketing.
Women comprise the majority of recorded
victims, though tourists and shoppers also make up a
significant proportion of victims. These passengers commonly
carry bags and valuables and therefore, provide the greatest
anticipated rewards for offenders. On underground systems,
intoxicated and sleeping passengers account for a large number
of victims in the late evening. Even if these victims were to
become aware of the theft, most would pose little risk to
escaping thieves. Much anecdotal information suggests a
distinction between professional and more opportunistic
pickpockets.
Although thefts occur steadily from
mid-morning until the early evening, the peak time for theft
on rail, underground and bus systems is the rush hour. Thefts
on underground systems also occur more frequently in the
summer months.
Crowding
These facts about the timing and location of
thefts suggest that crowded conditions facilitate thefts from
passengers. Crowding facilitates thefts in a number of ways.
Firstly, it increases the physical proximity between
passengers and potential offenders without raising a passenger’s
awareness. Secondly, in crowded conditions, passengers are
likely to be distracted and less able to detect potential
offenders or react to a theft. Thirdly, the natural movement
of passengers on crowded vehicles, and the associated jostling
of passengers as they move around, may provide useful cover
for thieves. Finally, crowding may assist escapes following
thefts and may make it more difficult for passengers and
personnel to identify and apprehend offenders.
Places where passengers converge and crowd,
such as near lifts or on escalators, therefore provide ideal
conditions for stealth thefts. Thefts at bus stops are also
greatly influenced by the nature of the surrounding
environment including crowded conditions. Passengers
travelling in crowded conditions with their valuables in rear
pockets or open bags are particularly at risk (see below).
| Poyner (1986) studied incidents of pick
pocketing at bus stops in Birmingham. A common scenario
involved youths standing on the footpath at the bus stop
stealing from male passengers boarding the bus with
their wallet in the rear pocket. Some of the youths
boarded the bus and distracted and jostled the male
passenger while another youth simultaneously took the
wallet and passed to accomplices to avoid detection. |
|
