SEPTA police say a virtual patrol unit monitoring more than 30,000 cameras across the transit system is helping officers catch suspected criminals and reduce crime. The transit agency reported a 10% decrease in serious crimes during the third quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. T hat includes a 35% drop in aggravated assaults. SEPTA is also reporting a downward trend in thefts, with incidents declining from 934 in 2019 to 394 in 2025. Transit police credit their virtual patrol unit, in part, for helping drive those numbers down. The unit, which launched in 2023, operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with agents monitoring surveillance cameras throughout the SEPTA system and alerting officers when they spot suspicious activity. “It’s a force multiplier for our patrol officers where they can observe cameras — over 30,000 cameras — across the system in monitoring the entirety of the SEPTA system,” said Capt. William Saunders of the SEPTA Transit Police Department. The technology allows virtual patrol agents to relay information to officers on the ground in real time, helping police track suspects as they move through stations and other parts of the transit system. “They’ve been instrumental in not only pulling up the video and getting our officers the flash information, but tracking individuals as they flow through the system,” Saunders said. SEPTA shared surveillance footage showing an incident in which virtual patrol agents spotted people allegedly stealing wire. According to Saunders, agents noticed the individuals in a restricted area and immediately notified officers. “they identified them in an area they should not have been in- notified our officers, officers responded, and caught them actually taking the sheathing off. That arrest was very beneficial,” Saunders said. The unit’s ability to monitor activity across the system gives transit police another tool to respond to potential crimes, even when officers aren’t immediately visible to riders. Some SEPTA passengers say the technology could improve safety, but emphasize the importance of having officers respond in person. “I think as long as they come and enforce it in person…it will be good,” one rider said. For passengers who remain concerned about safety, Saunders said police are actively monitoring the system, even when riders may not realize it. “Anywhere you travel you always want to be safe, be cognizant. But the system is safe we are out there. We are watching you from many different angles that you might not be aware of,” Saunders said. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less