SEPTA Warns Riders About Stolen Passes

SEPTA Warns Public that Stolen Trailpasses will be Confiscasted if Used

May 19, 2006

Philadelphia, PA  -- SEPTA today warned the general public not to purchase SEPTA Zone 2 Trailpasses from any unauthorized sales source because of the recent theft of more than 13,000 passes.

SEPTA is sending out the warning now because a number of riders have tried to use the stolen passes and many have already been confiscated by SEPTA personnel.

In late February, 13,800 SEPTA Zone 2 Monthly Trailpasses for May 2006 were found to be missing from a shipment of passes delivered to SEPTA's Revenue Department. A single Zone 2 Monthly Trailpass costs $106.00. The stolen Trailpasses are valued at $1.4 million.

Following the discovery, SEPTA contacted the vendor and an ongoing investigation was started in an effort to find out how the passes were stolen.The vendor reported to SEPTA that all of the passes were given to the courier that delivered them to SEPTA.Both the vendor and the courier are based in North Carolina.

To replace the stolen passes SEPTA had the vendor create and deliver a substitute pass that would differ from the original in design, color and serial numbers.The substitute pass is black and white and the original pass is green.In addition, SEPTA issued a fare bulletin for cashiers, bus operators and regional rail conductors instructing them to confiscate the original passes and the electronic fare collection equipment has been programmed to reject the stolen passes.Since May 1, more than 220 of the stolen passes have been confiscated by SEPTA cashiers at various subway/elevated stations.On May 16 SEPTA Police arrested a male at Erie Station on the Broad Street Line for attempting to sell stolen passes.He was charged with receiving stolen property.

SEPTA Transit Police and the SEPTA Inspector General's Office are continuing the investigation into the incident.SEPTA said that any information about the theft may be reported to the SEPTA Transit Police Department at (215) 580-8111. Information about the theft can also be reported confidentially to the SEPTA Inspector General's office at (215) 580-3797.