Crime across SEPTA’s transit system continued to decline in 2025, with serious offenses falling to their lowest level in at least a decade, according to new quarterly data released Thursday by SEPTA Transit Police.
The report shows a 6% reduction in serious crime in 2025 compared with 2024, including a 33% drop in gun-related incidents. Transit Police also reported an increase in enforcement of fare evasion and quality of ride offenses.
According to the data, serious crime declined in seven of the eight tracked categories, including aggravated assault and theft. Reductions were reported across SEPTA’s four largest modes of transportation: the Market-Frankford Line, Broad Street Line, buses, and Regional Rail.
SEPTA officials said 2025 marked the second consecutive year that serious crime totals fell below pre-pandemic levels. Overall, serious crime on the system is now at its lowest point since at least 2015.
“While 2025 was one of the most challenging years in SEPTA’s history, we stayed focused on delivering improvements to the system, especially when it comes to safety,” SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer said in a statement.
Sauer credited the decline to the expansion of the Transit Police force, along with investments in technology, infrastructure, and other security initiatives.
Transit Police reported a significant increase in enforcement activity in 2025, with fare evasion enforcement up 48% compared with the previous year. Quality-of-life enforcement rose by 12%.
As part of its effort to curb fare evasion, SEPTA is in the process of installing more than 200 full-height fare gates at 14 stations, a project expected to be completed by this summer. The agency also operates a Surface Transportation Unit focused on enforcing fare compliance on buses and trolleys, where entry is not controlled by fare gates.
SEPTA Transit Police Chief Charles Lawson said the department’s staffing levels are at their highest point in more than 10 years. The force currently includes 250 uniformed officers, and an additional 17 cadets began police academy training earlier this month.
“Our customers see officers as soon as they enter the system, and that increased police presence helps deter people from committing crimes,” Lawson said.
The full Fourth Quarter 2025 Crime Report is available on SEPTA’s website.
