Chicago transit adding security cameras, patrols

The Chicago Transit Authority is doubling its number of security cameras and work with police to start special plainclothes patrols.

CTA president Forrest Claypool announced the increased security efforts Monday. The CTA will use an accelerated bidding process to hire vendors to install all-angle cameras along rail platforms and other unsecure areas over the next six months.

The CTA's 1,500 cameras will increase to 3,000. So far in 2010 CTA security camera images have led to arrests in 13 cases. Last year it was 69 arrests.

Claypool says the goal is to "saturate" cameras to record criminal activity.

The CTA and Chicago police are calling new highly visible uniformed officer patrols "Wolfpacks." More plainclothes officers will also be out to crack down on phone and electronic device thefts.