# SEPTA Transit Watch

> Mobile reporting tool for suspicious activity on public transit. (iPhone/iPad app by ELERTS Corp.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/septa-transit-watch/id1231139910 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [ELERTS Corp](https://appshunter.io/developer/445885285)
- Category: Travel, Utilities
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.50/5 from 570 App Store ratings · 23 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 13.0 · 22 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2017-07-16
- Data updated: 2026-09-01
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/septa-transit-watch/id1231139910/reviews.md

## What is SEPTA Transit Watch?

“See something Say something” for smartphones

The SEPTA Transit Watch App offers the public a quick and discreet method for reporting suspicious activity directly to the police. The app can send pictures, text messages, and locations of suspicious people or activities. From the home screen, users have two easy options for contacting the SEPTA transit police: 

* The “Report a Problem” button allows users to send text or photos directly to the SEPTA Transit Police. To ensure discretion, the camera flash is automatically disabled when photos are taken through the app. When reporting an issue, users can select locations and report categories to assist the SEPTA Transit Police. Riders can also send reports anonymously if they chose. 

* The “Call SEPTA Police” button will connect customers directly to the SEPTA Transit Police. 

The application is designed for SEPTA. If you send a report in an area without cellular connectivity, it will be stored and sent when connectivity returns. The system is also designed to send text messages before pictures so that the SEPTA Transit Police can get app reports as quickly as possible. 

Additional Features 

BOLO (Be On the Look Out) Alerts. BOLO Alerts on the app may display alerts from SEPTA Transit Police about specific persons of interest. For example, the app may display information about a missing person or child, such as where they were last seen. If you see a person from a BOLO, immediately call 911 and send an app report to SEPTA Transit Police discreetly.

## Key features

- Report suspicious activity
- Send text messages and photos
- Discreet reporting with disabled flash
- Location tagging
- Anonymous reporting option
- Direct call to transit police
- Be On the Look Out (BOLO) alerts

## What do users think of SEPTA Transit Watch?

Overall sentiment: negative

**Pros**

- 🚀 Fast response times from dispatchers and officers
- 📱 Easy communication interface with SEPTA
- 👮 Responsive and polite staff when engaged
- ✅ Quick problem resolution when reports are acted upon

**Cons**

- 😤 Lack of enforcement action on reported incidents
- 🚫 No visible follow-up or consequences for violations
- 🐛 App crashes during peak times (train delays)
- ⏰ Slow or no response to crime reports in real-time
- 🚨 Safety concerns unaddressed (drug use, assaults, unsanitary conditions)
- 👮 Insufficient police presence and patrol
- 📍 Difficulty reporting incidents on moving vehicles

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App crashes when trains are running late
- Photo and text reporting functionality not working
- Location selection becomes inaccurate on moving trains

**Most requested features**

- Ability to specify train direction (Northbound/Southbound) when reporting
- Better signage inside transit cars showing train and car numbers
- Real-time follow-up notifications on submitted reports
- Improved location selection for moving vehicles
- Regular announcements about transit rules and consequences for violations
- Better communication about train delays and reasons

## Recent user reviews (10 of 23)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/septa-transit-watch/id1231139910/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Septa sucks

*2025-12-11, version 3.0.0*

I take the subway every day, I see people being assaulted,using drugs , mentally ill people goi g to the bathroom and I’ve used this app and nothing happens I’ve seen a septa cop 10 Times in 12 years useless

### 1/5 — Please do your jobs

*2025-04-15, version 3.0.0*

You can write on the app “people smoking on this train car, in this spot, at this stop” and then an officer will just look at the people smoking and continue scrolling on their phone

### 5/5 — Fast Response Time

*2024-10-03, version 3.0.0*

Submitted a hazard and got a very quick response! 
Thank You!

### 5/5 — Attention

*2024-05-24, version 3.0.0*

I always find the dispatchers and officers responsive, polite, and concerned about addressing safety concerns on and around SEPTA’s system. They take it all seriously, even including complaints of smoking on the platform.

### 2/5 — Could be improved

*2024-05-07, version 3.0.0*

They are responsive to messages but I’ve never once seen someone show up to the crime being reported in time to do anything about it

### 2/5 — Don’t care

*2024-04-17, version 2.2.0*

I report problems but nothing seems to happen

### 1/5 — Waste of tax dollars

*2024-04-17, version 2.2.0*

Septa always crying and trying to go on strike to steal the budget literally watching fentanyl users prep their drugs on the seat now if a child comes along and touches that they could lose their life! Homeless people sleeping, panhandling and causing health hazards with blood.You make the report and nothing occurs.We need a new organization to take over public transportation at this point!

### 1/5 — 😤😠😡🤬

*2024-01-24, version 2.2.0*

What’s the point of having this app and people reporting things if your not gonna freaking respond to the concern or issue get rid of this darn app or do what it’s meant for. Protect to riders rights and service RULES!!!

### 1/5 — Reporting incidents has no apparent effect on enforcement

*2023-10-09, version 2.2.0*

Seems that this is for PR. purposes only. Reporting incidents has no apparent effect on enforcement.

### 4/5 — customer

*2023-10-04, version 2.2.0*

I ride in NE Philly everyday on buses. They have very dirty and a few smells like urine. I won’t mention the ignorance of some.Now They are talking strike. Uber may be taking over

## Frequently asked questions about SEPTA Transit Watch

### What does the SEPTA Transit Watch app do?

The app allows users to quickly and discreetly report suspicious people or activities directly to the SEPTA Transit Police. It enables the submission of text messages, pictures, and locations, and provides an option for anonymous reporting.

### What are the key features of the app?

Key features include the ability to report problems with text or photos, automatic disabling of the camera flash for discretion, location selection, report categorization, an option for anonymous reporting, a direct call button to SEPTA Police, and Be On the Look Out (BOLO) alerts for persons of interest.

### Is the SEPTA Transit Watch app free to use?

Yes, the SEPTA Transit Watch app is free to download and use. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements mentioned in its description.

### How does the app handle areas with no cellular connectivity?

If you send a report in an area without cellular connectivity, the app is designed to store the report and send it automatically when connectivity is restored. It prioritizes sending text messages before pictures to ensure faster delivery of initial information.

### What should I do if I see someone from a BOLO alert?

If you see a person from a Be On the Look Out (BOLO) alert, you should immediately call 911 and then use the app to discreetly send a report to SEPTA Transit Police. This ensures both immediate emergency response and discreet reporting.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.0.0 — 2024-04-18

-Added the ability to provide more details after you send an initial report
-The Alert list now groups message threads together making it easier to follow conversations
-View your Reports by selecting the “My Reports” Tab on the Alert List
-Improved Photo and Video uploading UI

### 2.2.0 — 2023-03-08

Bug Fixes

### 2.1.0 — 2021-02-25

Fixed an issue where a user might not be able to submit a report

### 2.0.1 — 2020-12-23

Bug Fixes
Improved the upgrade process when moving to a new device.

### 2.0.0 — 2019-06-28

Added iOS 11 support
Added iPhone X support
Updated EULA
Multiple photos or videos can be submitted with an incident report.
If no wifi or cellular signal is available, user is informed of the status.
Enhanced performance with the latest versions of iOS

## Apps similar to SEPTA Transit Watch

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Patco Train Schedule](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/patco-train-schedule/id1275141690) | 3.6 (43) | Free | Travel |
| [ezTransit Philadelphia SEPTA](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/eztransit-philadelphia-septa/id1060074476) | 3.9 (8) | Free | Travel |
| [SEPTA OnDemand](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/septa-ondemand/id6447575722) | 1.8 (6) | Free | Travel |
| [SEPTA Destinations - Arrive](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/septa-destinations-arrive/id1439013563) | 3.9 (18) | Free | Travel |
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## More apps by ELERTS Corp

- [MBTA See Say](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mbta-see-say/id523210770)
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- [BART Watch](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bart-watch/id900583295)
- [CATS See Say](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cats-see-say/id1069895684)

All apps by ELERTS Corp: https://appshunter.io/developer/445885285

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-01.*