BART crime drops compared to same period last year | Crime and security

Crime on BART decreased 15% from August 2023 to August 2024.

According to BART Police Department Chief Kevin Franklin, violent crime is down 10% and property crime is down 16% during the same period.

The BART system recorded 12 electronic thefts in August, marking the lowest level in a month since 2021. Ridership in 2021 will also be “much lower” than today, Franklin said.

“This drop in crime is happening because we are strengthening our visible security presence in the system,” Franklin said in an email. “Our officers are more visible than ever. Their efforts contain relatively small problems before they become major problems that impact service.”

With the launch of BART’s Safe and Clean plan, which aims to double police presence across the system, the BART Police Department will increase the number of police officers, crisis intervention specialists and transit ambassadors within the BART system.

Franklin said the BART Police Department is maximizing its visible presence with available resources and prioritizing officer recruitment. New officers are offered a $15,000 bonus and the team is “aggressive” in hiring more officers.

In light of upcoming BART safety improvements, the system will install next-generation Fare Gates. The gates encourage more riders to pay their fare upon entering the system because they are difficult to jump or crawl under, Franklin said. These gates were installed at West Oakland, Civic Center, Fruitvale, Richmond, Oakland International Airport, 24th Street Mission and Antioch stations.

Installation of next-generation Fare Gates is currently underway at the 16th Street Mission, Franklin noted. By the end of 2025, all train stations will be equipped with next-generation fare gates.

Franklin said these gates feature a “brake locking mechanism” and “advanced sensors” that make BART accessible to riders using wheelchairs, strollers or bicycles, as well as those carrying luggage.

According to riders who are UC Berkeley students, the BART ride was relatively smooth.

Campus newcomer August Anderson feels safe on the BART, especially on the way to San Jose. She appreciates that in her experience it was clean, uncrowded and “relatively empty.” To avoid danger, she recommends riding with a friend.

“I always take BART and have never experienced a dangerous situation,” said Natalia Panduro, a freshman on campus who also expressed that she feels safe using BART. “I think crime has gone down a lot.”