TTC and police working to solve subway station robberies
February 04, 2009
Toronto Transit Commission employees were robbed at gunpoint on two successive evenings: February 3 and 4 at the Lawrence West and Yorkdale subway stations respectively. The TTC and Toronto police take these two robberies extremely seriously. As such, the TTC and Toronto Police Service are working closely to apprehend these thieves, and to prevent future robberies.
“No one was physically hurt in either of these robberies, and for that, we are all thankful,” said TTC Chief General Manager Gary Webster. “To ensure future robberies, or robbery attempts, are minimized – or eliminated entirely – we are taking steps, today, to address this matter. My number-one concern is for the safety of our workers and our customers.”
TTC Special Constables and Toronto Police Service officers will be making regular patrols across the entire subway system starting tonight. TTC Collectors have little cash on-hand, as secure vaults are present in every booth. The TTC also has an extensive CCTV camera program to assist with investigations. The TTC’s procedures dictate that employees co-operate during robbery attempts and do all that they can to ensure their personal protection.
The Toronto Transit Commission moves 464 million people every year – about 1.6 million riders every weekday. The TTC is the third largest public transit system in North America servicing some 4.5 million people in the Greater Toronto Area, with a network of subways, streetcars, buses, and a specialized service, Wheel-Trans, for people who require accessible transportation. The TTC is committed to meeting the growing needs of the region with subway and light rail expansion, carrying an additional 175 million riders by 2021.
“No one was physically hurt in either of these robberies, and for that, we are all thankful,” said TTC Chief General Manager Gary Webster. “To ensure future robberies, or robbery attempts, are minimized – or eliminated entirely – we are taking steps, today, to address this matter. My number-one concern is for the safety of our workers and our customers.”
TTC Special Constables and Toronto Police Service officers will be making regular patrols across the entire subway system starting tonight. TTC Collectors have little cash on-hand, as secure vaults are present in every booth. The TTC also has an extensive CCTV camera program to assist with investigations. The TTC’s procedures dictate that employees co-operate during robbery attempts and do all that they can to ensure their personal protection.
The Toronto Transit Commission moves 464 million people every year – about 1.6 million riders every weekday. The TTC is the third largest public transit system in North America servicing some 4.5 million people in the Greater Toronto Area, with a network of subways, streetcars, buses, and a specialized service, Wheel-Trans, for people who require accessible transportation. The TTC is committed to meeting the growing needs of the region with subway and light rail expansion, carrying an additional 175 million riders by 2021.