NYC subway crime down 18 percent

NEW YORK, April 28 (UPI) -- New York City's monthly rate of subway crime has dropped by 18 percent over the same period last year, despite increased ridership.

Transit chief Michael Scagnelli attributed the decline to a larger uniformed and undercover police presence in the sprawling system that has seen a 21 percent jump in ridership from 1997 to 2004.

Many of the reported thefts involve new technology, such as cell phones and iPod digital music players, he said.

So far this year, 50 iPods have been reported stolen on the subways, compared to zero last year, when the pricey players were less common, the New York Post said Thursday.

"Generally, the (iPod) victims are youths -- they're students," he said. "The criminals are also youths."