Crime during Relays lowest in recent years

Only 33 incidentsOnly 33 incidentsreported over theOnly 33 incidentsreported over the3 day weekend Last weekend's Penn Relays festivities were the calmest in recent years, according to University Police. "This was an extremely quiet weekend," University Police Captain John Richardson said. "There were no significant problems that could be attributed to the Relays or Hey Day." In all, 33 crimes -- none of them serious -- were reported to the police over the three-day weekend. Of the 33 incidents, there were 13 reports of thefts, six thefts from autos, three robberies and one simple assault. Richardson explained that many of the event's potential "trouble spots" -- such as the concerts at Irvine Auditorium and the outdoor party on 42nd Street -- passed without incident. "For all intents and purposes, despite the large crowds, this was a normal weekend," he said. The 1994 Relays weekend, by contrast, was marred by assaults, robberies and gunshots. In one of its more serious incidents, three students were pulled from their car and beaten. And a Domino's delivery person was robbed at gunpoint in front of High Rise North. Richardson attributed this year's relative calm to increased cooperation between the police department and the University community. "The community was more than willing to help keep things in order," he explained. "The fraternities and sororities were especially cooperative." He said Philadelphia Police Department officers helped ensure that there were no problems with vendors, supplemented University Police patrols and helped with traffic control near Franklin Field. "We don't really have the resources to cover everything," he said. "They were very helpful." Richardson said the Liquor Control and Enforcement Bureau, however, seemed to have been absent from campus over the weekend. "I didn't run across any LCE agents," he explained. "I didn't see that any citations were given." Richardson said credited the Athletic Department with helping keep the weekend calm, adding that University Police had not received any complaints about the private security firm, Contemporary Security, the department hired to patrol Franklin Field. "They did a great job of successfully managing the events themselves," he said. "Everything was well thought out and organized." Richardson said the event's success was good for the entire community. "It was great for all the businesses and eateries," he said. "But most importantly, it showed people that Penn could be both fun and safe." Richardson added that he hoped this year's calm would change students' views of the Relays. "A lot of students seem apprehensive about the [Relays] weekend," he said. "But anyone anticipating lots of problems had their anticipations and anxieties unfulfilled."