Hold on to your devices: Police say there's a uptick in reports of iPhones snatched out of Metro riders’ hands, according to the Metro Transit Police Department.
The incidents have all taken place in the afternoon or evening on the Orange, Silver and Blue lines, and are believed to be related.
Metro police say there have been six reported snatch-and-grab incidents involving iPhone 6 devices since the beginning of June. In some of the cases, the victim and thieves were aboard a train stopped at a station. The thieves then snatched the phone and ran off the train.
In the other cases, the victims were standing on the station platform or escalator when their phones were snatched.
Metro police have increased the number of officers aboard trains and at stations. They say they are “actively pursuing multiple leads, including digital video and other surveillance, and hope to have suspects identified shortly.”
Police say riders should make sure to stay vigilant of their surroundings at all times, especially when traveling on the Orange, Silver and Blue lines. Metro police are encouraging riders to not use their phones near train doors or on escalators. In addition, the police say activating the “Find My iPhone” feature is a good precautionary measure.
Anybody who sees suspicious activity on the Metro can call (202) 962-2121 or send a text message to “MyMTPD” (696873).
