Pick-pockets 'on the rise' aboard crowded public transport buses

Dubai: With the increase in the number of passengers using public buses, incidents of pick-pocketing in buses are also on the rise in Dubai.

A number of passengers complained of losing their wallets and mobile phones while using the crowded public transport buses. They also said some bus drivers are rude to passengers, including women.

"I found my wallet missing after I got off the bus on Khalid Bin Waleed Road in Dubai. I went to the nearest police station to complain and I was told that it was quite common in buses these days," said K.S., a Filipino.

He said that he regularly uses public buses because they are cheaper and affordable but the pick-pocketing incident was a big blow "as I lost my work permit, credit cards and more than Dh1,500 in cash".

A Gulf News reader who takes a bus from Karama to reach office, said that bus stops are crowded, especially during the morning rush hours as dozens of people wait for buses at each bus stop.

"Most people do not stand in queue and push each other to get into the bus. Whenever I see a crowd like this, I avoid riding a bus. My friend and I both lost our wallets in such a crowd," he said.

He suspected there is a kind of 'gang' of some people, who gather at the bus stops during rush hour and push passengers trying to board the bus to pick their wallets.

A Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) official said they often receive such complaints but cannot help because the driver cannot watch every passenger. "We are planning to install cameras on buses as part of enhanced security and safety for passengers," he added.

Scary

Diana, another passenger, said she was scared to ride public buses after a scary incident in the bus.

"I took the RTA bus from Sharjah to Dubai. When the bus was almost empty, the bus driver started talking to me and asked fo4r my name and mobile phone number.

"His insistence was scary and I asked him to open the door so I could leave. He initially refused but later opened the door only when I threatened to call the police," she added.

Rachael (not her real name), a Filipina, said that the bus drivers often refuse to let her and other female passenger board the buses when there are no seats.

"I often see men standing or sitting in the seats for women leaving no space for female passengers," she said.

Revamp: Additions to fleet

According to the Public Transport Agency's statistics, the number of passengers using public transport buses has already increased to 68 million during the first three quarters of this year in addition to nine million passengers using buses on inter-city routes.

Keeping in view the increasing number of passengers, RTA will include 170 double-decker buses, 300 articulated buses and 150 traditional ones by the end of 2008, bringing the total number of buses to around 1,200 from the existing approximately 500 buses.

Contact

An RTA official said passengers should contact RTA's call centre at 800 9090 to lodge any complaint.