MBTA says crime down sharply

In 2009, a total of 827 major crimes were reported last year, 21 percent fewer than 2008.

The number of aggravated assaults fell from 103 in 2008 to 88. There were no homicides.

But the biggest drop was larcenies, which fell 26 percent from 701 to 522. Robberies decreased nine percent from 208 to 189.

Robberies, which are considered a violent crime, occur when the victim is confronted directly by a thief. Larcenies are thefts that take place when a victim is caught unaware by the perpetrator, who swipes a person's wallet or purse when the person is not looking.

For a station-by-station breakdown of crime, click here.

Chief Paul MacMillan said the decrease in such property crimes is partly due to a public awareness campaign that Transit Police have launched urging people, particularly teenagers, to guard electronic items like iPods, iPhones, Sidekicks, and cell phones.

“We continue to stress the importance of being aware of your surroundings, especially if you are texting or using any hand-held electronic device”, MacMillan said in a statement.

Another factor is the agency's emphasis on catching fare jumpers, police said.

Fare-evasion citations increased from 1,267 in 2008 to 2,864 in 2009, according to the MBTA. The decrease comes at a time of reduced crime across the country.

Nationwide, violent crime fell 4.4 percent during the first six months of 2009 compared with the same time period in 2008, according to statistics compiled by the FBI.

In Boston, major crimes fell eight percent between 2008 and 2009. Homicides were at their lowest since 2003, with 49 killings reported citywide