Security at parking lot increased

In the wake of last month's abduction of a College of General Studies student from a parking lot at 34th and Chestnut streets, the lot's owners are taking steps to increase lighting and security measures. "We just ordered three more [light] poles out there, toward 36th Street," said Don Tesauro, president of Independence Hall Parking, the company that owns the lot. Because the corner of the lot near the Sheraton Hotel is very dark at night, Tesauro said, the $1,500 cost per light pole is worth it if future crimes can be prevented. "The electric company doesn't move so fast, but I would suspect [the poles will be up] in a week," he said. Another security provision will be to install "spikes" at all of the lots' entrances, Tesauro said. The spikes can be activated by lot attendants to stop cars from leaving the lot if they feel there is a security problem. If a car moves over the spikes, its tires will be ripped. "The job will be done Saturday," he said. "We were told not to do it last week because of Homecoming." In the October incident, a 25-year-old student was car-jacked at about 9:50 p.m. while walking to her car after class. She was robbed of $7, and driven to an abandoned house at 12th Street and Girard Avenue, where she was sexually assaulted and shot in the face. She was taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where she was treated for injuries, including a bullet graze to the cheek. She was released later that day. Keith Vivett, 28, of West Philadelphia was arrested November 2 and has been charged in the incident. University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich said he is pleased with the proposed security improvements at the lot. "I think it is absolutely the right thing to do to increase the level of physical security for the lot, and I'm glad to see they are taking those steps," he said last night. He also said University Police is trying to increase its visibility in that area, and coordinate patrols with the schedules of College of General Studies students, whose classes meet at night. "People need to do something about it. Just adding cops doesn't do," he said. "Everybody needs to do a little piece." Tesauro also commended the work that University Police has been doing in the area. "The University of Pennsylvania [police are] better than our city police," he said. "Their car comes through there quite often."

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.