| Santa
Clara VTA |
Riders
Union |
Background
The holiday season between Thanksgiving and the New Year is the peak season
for shoppers and tourists. The holiday season between Thanksgiving and the
New Year is also the peak of the season for pickpockets and other
criminals.
SCVTARU has some tips you can follow to make sure you and your valuables are
safe when you take any Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) bus or
light rail train.
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Security Tips YOU Can Use
- Try to use well-lit and frequently used bus and light rail stops.
Immediately report poorly-lit light rail stations and/or platforms to VTA at
(408)321-2300, and use our DIY
page for reporting the issue directly to VTA management.
- Sit as close to the driver as possible. When riding light rail, sit
as close as possible to the light rail operator at the front of the train.
- If at all possible, do not fall asleep when riding a VTA bus or light rail
train. STAY ALERT!
- Avoid overloading yourself with packages. Take a buddy with you if
you must handle a lot of packages on your trip.
- On crowded buses or light rail trains, be especially weary of
pickpockets. They often have an accomplice who will jostle you, ask you
for directions or the time, or point to something spilled on your clothing, or
distract you by creating a disturbance.
- If at all possible, never carry large sums of money. If you must do so, do
not carry all of it in your wallet or purse.
- Protect your credit cards and transit passes as you would cash. Do
not carry any credit cards, cash, or transit passes you will not use.
- While waiting for a light rail train, stand back from the platform
edge. If possible, avoid sitting or standing near the exit door -
an attacker can reach in and grab a purse or jewelry.
- If you are verbally harassed or pickpicketed, IMMEDIATELY alert the
operator of the bus or light rail operator by screaming or talking
loudly. On light rail cars, use the intercom button next to each door to
alert the operator. Alert the light rail operator if you observe
suspicious people or incidents aboard light rail
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In trouble on board light rail? Call boxes next to the doors let
you alert the operator in emergencies.
(SCVTARU) |
Do you use a cell phone? If you are the
victim of a crime or witness a crime taking place at a VTA bus or light rail
stop, or on a VTA bus, IMMEDIATELY dial 911. Let the operator
know the exact location where the crime occurred, what is occurring, and a
complete description of those involved. If the perpetrators are driving a
vehicle, give as accurate a description of the vehicle as possible. Make
written notes of as much information as possible, you might forget it later on
when you need it. Get as many witnesses as possible and obtain their
contact information as needed. Also, get the vehicle and driver's
information below, as shown in the next section.
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Identifying the Vehicle Number, Operator Badge
Number, and the Run Number
If the crime occurred on a VTA bus or light rail train, note the vehicle
number where the crime occurred, as well as the operator's badge number and the
"run number". This information is important for law enforcement to
properly identify the vehicle and provide assistance as needed.
All light rail trains have the vehicle number
- at the front of each car, on the upper right side above the destination
sign and
- at the front and rear sides of each car, above the window for the light
rail operator, and
- below the operator call boxes next to the doors of all light rail
cars
For VTA buses, the vehicle number is always found at the outside front of the
bus, between the left headlight(s) and the left front window at the entrance
door side. Many VTA buses also have the vehicle number on the inside front
panel of the bus at the back of the destination sign, either above the farebox
or above the steering wheel.
All VTA bus and light rail operators have their badge number on the right
sleeve of their shirt or jacket, below the VTA logo.
The internal run number is used by VTA management to identify what bus line
or light rail destination the vehicle is going to (or from), and often from
which bus garage it came from.
You can find the "run number" for all VTA buses and light rail cars is found
at the lighted box on the bus dashboard or in the front window of the first rail
car.
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Want To Prevent Crime On VTA Buses and Light
Rail?
Report all crime you witness or are a victim of
IMMEDIATELY. The longer you wait, or by
staying silent, the less likely the assailant will be caught. Failing to
report crime produces more and worse crimes by the same criminals. Whether
you are a victim or witness to crime aboard VTA buses or light rail, get
involved! Only with your involvement can VTA buses and light rail be
safer for everyone to enjoy.
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Disclaimer: We are NOT affiliated with, nor endorsed by, the Santa Clara
Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) in any way.