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METRA Conductors carry bank?

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METRA Conductors carry bank?
Posted by CMStPnP on Monday, February 21, 2022 7:55 AM

Geez, if that isn't a tempting target.....who knew they carried a small bank on their person?

https://www.foxnews.com/us/chicago-train-robbery-suspect-mom-recognizes-him-police-station

Why doesn't METRA follow Amtraks example and move to cashless fare collection and cut both your cash skimming / embezzlement as well as your labor costs?    This is the same agency that overstaffs in the area of train stations and ticket windows.

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Monday, February 21, 2022 9:43 AM

Agree. I thought they were moving in that direction, but slowly.

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Posted by Overmod on Monday, February 21, 2022 11:23 AM

And let's really PUBLICIZE that conductors carry cash, and can be threatened with BB guns and give it up.

And by implication that if poor college students are hungry they should just take a METRA train and get some money for themselves en route.  That was almost the worst part.

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Posted by York1 on Monday, February 21, 2022 11:31 AM

Deleted by poster.

York1 John       

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Posted by CMStPnP on Monday, February 21, 2022 5:33 PM

Overmod
And let's really PUBLICIZE that conductors carry cash, and can be threatened with BB guns and give it up.

Thats how you bring about change and I'll bet I am not the only one asking the question after that story was published.   What do you want to bet the Chicago Police Chief lets the Mayor know his opinion of the practice and METRA speeds up the changeover as a result.   It's a big risk to the passengers as this story demonstrates.

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Posted by Overmod on Monday, February 21, 2022 7:59 PM

CMStPnP
Thats how you bring about change and I'll bet I am not the only one asking the question after that story was published.

The timeframe I'm concerned about is the days or weeks for the copycats to start -- probably quicker than the timeframe for the Union Pacific container theft 'metastasis'.

Give METRA a ten-figure budget to implement cashless ticketing and it wouldn't go anywhere in that short a timeframe.  On the other hand, point out the hundred-dollar bills on the hoof, ripe for the plucking, in a city renowned for not prosecuting gang firearms violations... and you might see that 'not giving people ideas' would be a valuable strategy.

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