How Safe is the Septa Subway? - Philadelphia News, Weather and Sports from WTXF FOX 29

Septa Police released pictures of a gunman who robbed and shot a man on the platform of the North Philadelphia station of the Broad Street line Sunday night.

Video taken just moments before the shooting shows the suspect walking in front of the victim as they walked down a hallway. A 53-year old North Philadelphia man was then shot in the back and the shooter stole more than $200 cash from his pocket. He was listed in stable condition at Temple University Hospital.

The shooting and Saturday's stabbing outside the Market-Frankford Line had Septa passengers on edge. While the victim laid on the ground, the shooter stole more than 200-dollars from his pocket.

"I think it's getting a little better but I still have my guard up though" said one female rider from North Philadelphia.

 We wanted to see for ourselves.  Reporter Chris O'Connell took a trip on Septa's Broad Street Line and the Market Frankford Line.
 Our trip took us to 7 different stations from North to South Philly. We rode on 6 different trains over 90 minutes.  We didn't come across any problems. But we also didn't spot one transit police officer during our trip.  A common complaint heard from passengers.

"It's not as safe as it used to be. And I still don't see any police" said one passenger from Montgomery County.

"We have an amazingly low crime rate in the Philadelphia subway system" said Septa's new police chief Thomas Nestle. He says  transit crime is actually down overall. But according to Septa, robberies are on pace to eclipse last year thanks to cell phone thefts. In 2011 there were 99 robberies on the subway. Just this year there have already been 86.
Septa's top cop says with new surveillance camera's being installed everyday, criminals are getting the message.
 
"There was a time when people were afraid to be in the transit system. People are not afraid ride the subway system" said Nestle.

If you know the man in the surveillance video you are urged to call Philadelphia Police Northwest Detectives at 215-686-3353 or Septa Police at 215-580-8111.