Home California Ride BART? Protect Your Cell Phones as BART Police Issue Warning

Ride BART? Protect Your Cell Phones as BART Police Issue Warning

by ECT

BART police announced the arrest of 10 juveniles on Tuesday in connection with a series of electronic thefts. These are grab and go thefts occurring on BART trains.

BART PD Makes Arrests in Connection With Series of Cellphone Thefts

BART police are urging riders to keep a close eye on their cellphones after they made multiple arrests in connection with a series of electronic thefts.  A total of ten juveniles were detained by BPD on Tuesday, May 7th at the West Oakland, 12th Street/Oakland City Center, and Powell Street stations. The investigation is on-going, and detectives are working to determine how many thefts the juveniles are responsible for.

“We’ve seen a surge in cellphone thefts in San Francisco between the Glen Park and Powell Street stations,” said Interim BART Police Chief Ed Alvarez.  “We’re deploying as many officers as we can, but we need help from our riders.  Most cellphone thefts on BART are crimes of opportunity.  People should regularly look up from their devices, so they can see what’s happening near them and avoid having their phones out when the doors open for their trains.”

The latest cellphone incidents appear to be grab-and-go thefts.  At this point there’s no indication any weapons were involved, and no injuries were reported in connection with these crimes.  The juveniles that were detained range in age from 14 to 16 years old. Two suspects were booked into juvenile hall on suspicion of attempted robbery while the others who were detained were identified and released to their parents or guardians

BART police are urging riders to keep a close eye on their cellphones after they made multiple arrests in connection with a series of electronic thefts.  A total of ten juveniles were detained by BPD on Tuesday, May 7th at the West Oakland, 12th Street/Oakland City Center, and Powell Street stations. The investigation is on-going, and detectives are working to determine how many thefts the juveniles are responsible for.

“We’ve seen a surge in cellphone thefts in San Francisco between the Glen Park and Powell Street stations,” said Interim BART Police Chief Ed Alvarez.  “We’re deploying as many officers as we can, but we need help from our riders.  Most cellphone thefts on BART are crimes of opportunity.  People should regularly look up from their devices, so they can see what’s happening near them and avoid having their phones out when the doors open for their trains.”

The latest cellphone incidents appear to be grab-and-go thefts.  At this point there’s no indication any weapons were involved, and no injuries were reported in connection with these crimes.  The juveniles that were detained range in age from 14 to 16 years old. Two suspects were booked into juvenile hall on suspicion of attempted robbery while the others who were detained were identified and released to their parents or guardians.

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23 comments

Kathleen May 8, 2019 - 12:05 pm

One has to be totally STUPID to screw around with their cellphone while on BART! When the train stops and the doors open, scumbags rush in, grab the phone and get out to disappear into the throngs. If you just HAVE to do something, get a paperback and READ or grab a newspaper!

Simonpure May 8, 2019 - 12:09 pm

Would never set foot in that cesspool in the first place

Friedrich Nietzche May 8, 2019 - 1:37 pm

No physical description, so be on the look out for groups of teens of any race or ethnicity!

Political Shark May 8, 2019 - 11:16 pm

The only teenagers I’ve witnesses swarming and causing problems on BART trains were BLACK! The ones running loose and attacking sales people at Sun Valley Mall and then in the Safeway parking lot were also BLACK!

QUEST May 9, 2019 - 2:30 pm

Gangs of teenagers I’ve seen running around through malls, grabbing merchandise and knocking people over have all been black. Same goes for BART and it doesn’t matter whether it’s daytime or later. We riders have to have something with which to protect ourselves. These mobs not only grab cell phone, but other things as well like briefcases, wallets, etc. I’ve seen them attack a family of four: father, mother and 2 young children. The father managed to kick them off his kids, giving a few attackers some nice shiners

Ariana May 8, 2019 - 2:56 pm

People living in the East Bay shouldn’t have to take BART to jobs in San Francisco. Those companies headquartered in SF, should open branch offices where their employees LIVE! They can communicate online. I wouldn’t get on BART if my life depended on it.

Last time I was on it, bums were sleeping on benches and I saw maggots crawling on their clothes! The seats were so filthy that I sat on my newspaper as a barrier to the filth.

GiGi Diamond May 13, 2019 - 1:36 am

I had to take BART a few times and some people get on who have no idea what personal hygiene is all about. This was during the very warm summer months and this guy got on wearing a tank top and was holding on to the strap standing up and he reeked so badly probably from not bathing for weeks. He stank up the entire car. People were just about passing out from the stench. There was nowhere else to move. All the cars were full.

grace May 13, 2019 - 6:06 pm

I would have called the BART police and demanded the odoriferous one be removed immediately, but warned the police to wear some gas masks.

Julio May 10, 2019 - 6:40 pm

We just plain do not go on bart. Never have since it opened.

La Rabelais May 10, 2019 - 6:59 pm

I had to take BART one time when the friends where I usually park had relatives staying with them they used that slot. The ride was such a bad experience, I call UBER to get me to SF and then they also take me back home.

MEV May 10, 2019 - 8:51 pm

The experience is not improving either! Bums, Bums, Bums and more Bums; you should have seen the condition of the train cars last night at midnight. Disgusting. Cracks me up, they show the fare evader police getting on the trains. They just need to stand by the faregates. I saw a City Worker with his vest on and everything do it just because he can. Hopefully, the interim police chief will be better than that new guy that will be departing with Loser Grace Crunican who should have never been hired in the first place. Good riddance to both. They should have named BART, Bull****, because they are beyond full of crap in EVERY possible area the word has meaning.

Joe May 12, 2019 - 11:24 am

I don’t like public transportation. Took it once and that was it. Never again!

Mike Wood May 13, 2019 - 8:36 pm

One way to fix the cell phone thefts on BART! Pack it with explosives and after they grab it and are back on their turf, use another phone to detonate it. Make sure the results are publicized widely and you will get fewer and fewer scumbags willing to take a chance not knowing which phones are packed. Word will spread quickly. Problem solved!

Nick May 13, 2019 - 10:03 pm

Not displaying your phones (or any technology) is a wiser, more logical approach. It’s the world we live in.

Kinky Camel May 13, 2019 - 11:30 pm

Possibly, but your idea doesn’t get rid of the vermin.

Elizabeth E. Parker May 13, 2019 - 11:38 pm

So, what do you do with your wallet? It’s normally not displayed but people have had their wallets taken at gun or knife point.

Tammy May 14, 2019 - 3:01 am

I’ve have friends who were relieved of their purses and gold jewelry grabbed off their necks in one fell swoop! That jewelry was not even visible but the teen-aged thief pushed one woman’s head down and saw the clasp and yanked the chain off. Took a few seconds.

Dawn Marie May 14, 2019 - 1:37 pm

Mike Wood! I love your idea!

Richard May 14, 2019 - 4:55 pm

A guy I work with was on the BART train last year when a bunch of black hoodlum teenagers got on and started fighting and threatening people. There was woman they tried to grab, but he managed get ahold of two of the creeps and banged their heads together — hearing a crack — then he slugged one bastard in the chin dislocating his jaw! Good work. So, they took their “wounded” and fled.

Brad J May 15, 2019 - 1:08 am

If I have to take BART, I do not go on it “empty-handed” . . . if you get my drift! People have been killed on that train and the stations.

Sherry May 15, 2019 - 10:30 pm

Taking lessons in Krav maga (Israeli-military-developed self-defense techniques) can help you prepare for potential attacks on BART and elsewhere. A combination of martial arts (karate, kung fu) along with Krav maga can be very helpful.

Rocketman May 18, 2019 - 6:17 pm

I wouldn’t be caught dead on a BART train! Filthy and dangerous!

ONIWY May 21, 2019 - 1:01 pm

It’s getting to be just like this, isn’t it? https://apnews.com/4fe25feb5481467fbcc0a2f275a287f9

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