With release of iPad, a reminder of tips for protecting personal property on BART

The Apple iPad was just released this past weekend, and commuters already are toting the tablet computers along on BART --  prompting lots of riders to report their first sightings of iPads "in the wild" on BART.

Along with attracting attention from curious commuters, the iPad -- like other easily portable and expensive electronic devices -- may also be a new target for potential thieves. BART Police are using the occasion as a reminder of general safety tips for protecting your personal property while on BART.

• Stay alert and pay close attention to your surroundings. Those who "zone out" listening to music on their iPods, texting on their phones, playing video games or working on laptop computers make themselves easier targets.
•  Hold on to your belongings - do not leave them lying out of your reach on the seat next to you or on the floor.
•  Keep purses or backpacks close to the front of your body. On a crowded train, something hanging behind you might create a crime of opportunity for a thief.
• If it is possible, don't stand directly by the train doors with your electronic device, because that could give a thief an easier exit to "grab and go" as the door is closing.
•   Be the eyes and ears for others around you to help create a safer commuity for everyone.
•  If you observe suspicous activity or a possible crime there are many ways to report it; visit the BART Safety Guidelines for more detail on what to do on a train or in a station.