Case Explained: SEPTA Saw Lowest Rate of Serious Crime Since 2015 Last Year – Legal Perspective

Image via Philadelphia Transit Vehicles.

SEPTA saw its lowest rate of serious crime in 2025 in a decade, as increased enforcement and police presence seem to be making an impact.

SEPTA recorded its lowest level of serious crime last year since 2015, according to new crime statistics, writes Mike DeNardo for KYW Newsradio.

According to new crime statistics, SEPTA had a 6 percent decline in serious crimes in 2025. This includes homicides, thefts, and aggravated assaults. Among the eight categories of crime, numbers were down for all but robberies.

Last year’s numbers mark a continuous drop in recent years, as there was a 33 percent drop in serious crime in 2024.

Jim Zuggi, SEPTA’s deputy police chief, credits the overall decline to the increased enforcement against lower-level crimes, such as fare evasion and drug use.

He also credited it to the fact that officers have a more visible presence on the system.

“We try to be extremely visible on the platforms and in the trains. When you see groups of police officers throughout the system, people that mean or intend to commit a crime, they’ll think twice because they just saw police,” Zuggi said.

In addition, fare evasion enforcement went up 48 percent, while quality of life enforcement was up 12 percent.

Last year also marked the second consecutive year that serious crime numbers reached below pre-pandemic levels.

Read more about the decline of serious crime within SEPTA at KYW Newsradio.

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