SEPTA Rider Describes Frightening Attack

Woman is the victim of one of three assaults at Wayne Avenue Junction

Police are keeping a close watch on SEPTA’s Wayne Avenue Junction station, after three robberies and assaults there in August.

One of the victims spoke exclusively to NBC10. “I never thought something like that would happen to me” she told Lori Wilson.

The woman was attacked in a SEPTA stairwell as she climbed to catch the train on Wednesday.

“He came up behind me, pulled my bag, swung me around, dragged me down the steps” she said.

She wouldn’t give up her purse. But her attacker got away with her cell phone.

“We have increased our patrols at Wayne Junction Station given the recent events over the last few weeks” said SEPTA’s Heather Redfern.

There are a couple of cameras on the street, but none in the stairwell where the woman was attacked.

The station is undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation. It includes mirrors, cameras in the stairwells and on platforms, and brighter lights to make riders feel safe. It should be finished by 2014.

Meanwhile, the victim says she’ll drive to work.

She tells NBC10 “I do feel lucky, because it could have been worse, he could have had a gun.”

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