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Metro had more riders -- 98 million -- in 2006 more than ever before. But with additional passengers, came more crime.

"I try to catch the bus with my purse kind of in front of me or kind of like this," said Linda Walker.

It's not just bus riders. Park & Rides passengers are targeted too.

For the last fiscal year, thefts went up 16-percent. The incease in robberies was even more alarming.

They skyrocketed by 400-percent compared to the fiscal year before.

Add it all up and crimes at bus stops, along the light rail and at Park & Rides were up 32-percent in the last year.

Metro police say they're trying to solve all these crimes with more officers on the streets and better technology.

"We're beginning to see the numbers come down. As you look at the first quarter of this fiscal year -- October, November and December -- we're seeing the numbers in all part one crimes going down," said Metro Police Chief Tom Lambert.

Perhaps in part, Metro says, because it added 20 new police officers.

Plus, Metro is installing new cameras with public address systems at four Park & Rides -- and is in the process of putting them in 17 other locations.

It's all part of the transit agency's effort to put the brakes on rising crime while welcoming a large number of new riders.