Thefts on the Chicago Transit Authority, a category that includes the snatches of smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices from transit riders, increased 16 percent in the first nine months of the year compared with the same period in 2011, according to Chicago police data.
Robberies on the CTA declined from January through September of this year compared with the first nine months of 2011. Robberies, which involve force or intimidation, increased by 69 percent from 2009 through 2011, a Chicago Tribune analysis done this year found.