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Last year, the number of serious crimes committed on Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) system fell from 1,052 in 2008 to 827 — the lowest level since 1980, when 3,304 crimes were reported.

No homicides were reported in 2009 while, on a year-over-year basis, the number of aggravated assaults fell from 103 to 88, property thefts dropped from 701 to 522, robberies declined from 208 to 189 and vehicle thefts decreased from 27 to 17.

Public awareness campaigns have helped reduce theft of personal electronic devices, MBTA officials said in a prepared statement. One-third of all larcenies involve the theft of such items as iPods, iPhones and cell phones.

MBTA also announced that fare evasion citations increased from 1,267 in 2008 to 2,864 in 2009.

“Our point-of-entry policing strategy has had an impact and continues to pay dividends as we conduct fare evasion initiatives and make ourselves highly visible to customers entering the transit system,” said MBTA Transit Police Chief Paul MacMillan.