New security monitors at rail stations as Chicago police seek CTA robbery suspects
Suspects threw victim's bike on tracks in Red Line CTA incident, CPD said
CHICAGO (WLS) -- There are newly installed security camera monitors at CTA rail stations Tuesday in an effort to increase passenger safety after a string of crimes against riders.
The monitors are located at all 146 rail stations.
Officials said each CTA booth is now equipped with a 21-inch display that offers live feeds from that station's security cameras.
CTA employees can monitor cameras and the display while either inside or outside the booths.
This is the latest measure the CTA is taking to increase safety for riders.
SEE ALSO | Chicago police release photos of suspects wanted in Loop armed robbery on CTA train
Just this weekend, two men attacked another man on the Red Line near the 95th Street station.
Video shows one of the men grabbing the victim's wine bottle, then hitting him in the head, leaving him bleeding.
"When I seen the blood, I instantly felt so bad!" TeShaun Terry said. "So, I instantly ... when the train stopped, I stopped the video and I ran upstairs to look for the operators. There were no operators! There were no security! There were literally no one!"
Police also released an alert: They are looking for three suspects that attacked and robbed a man on the Red Line train at Garfield last week, while that man was on his way home from work.
Police said one of the suspects had a knife. They punched and kicked the victim, stole his bike and then threw the bike on the tracks, where it was hit by an oncoming train.
WATCH | Activists patrol CTA Red Line after violent robbery
"Especially late at night or early in the morning, it's still unsafe; my fiancé takes the train to work, oftentimes talks about how she is the only one in the car, with like three people in it, and they are all acting weird around her. I think it's a good step," CTA rider Sunrito Bhattacharya said.
Safety is something many people that ride the train often have to think about constantly.
"I would say, don't ride the CTA in the late night or in the early morning, but in rush hour I would say it's OK," CTA rider Zhanyi Chu said.
"Definitely being aware of people around you and knowing what's going on," rider Mike Kelch said.
More work is being planned for the second phase of this project. Those monitors will have a touchscreen feature, allowing the operator to switch camera views, plus access to other tools.
All of that is set to begin next year.
