Fall semester robberies and thefts drop from 1996 to 1997

Returning students have a reason to feel safer this year than last fall, according to University Police records which indicate a substantial decrease in robberies and thefts this year when compared to the same period in 1996. The number of robberies decreased by approximately 24 percent between August 29 and September 20 of this year when compared to the same period last year, while the number of robberies at gunpoint fell by 50 percent. While there were seven robberies at gunpoint between August 29 and September 20 this year, University Police responded to 14 such robberies during the same period last year. And the amount of robberies handled by University Police -- both within and outside the department's jurisdiction -- dropped from 17 robberies and one attempted robbery in the fall of 1996 to 13 robberies and one attempt this year. Additionally, the amount of thefts handled by University Police fell from 165 in 1996 to 126 this fall, while bicycle thefts decreased from 50 to 31 over the approximately three-week interval. But although the number of total thefts decreased by 23.6 percent, the number of computers stolen from students or University offices increased from five to seven over the same period examined. University Police officials hailed the decreases in fall crime as evidence of improvements in campus safety, but stressed that the force will continue to focus on the high robbery and bike theft figures. "The big thing that we see different is it appears that the robberies this year, one, use fewer guns, and two, they're no longer walking in and out [of the campus]," Director of Police Operations Maureen Rush explained, adding that criminals "realize that the area is far more populated by security and police." While Rush declined to specify exact deployment figures for the University Police force, she emphasized that the on-campus security atmosphere is inhospitable to potential criminals. As a result, she said, robbers are using cars more frequently than last year in order to get in and out of campus more quickly. Rush added that police are using a "proactive approach" and stopping cars they suspect may be stolen -- which are most likely to be used in criminal acts like robbery. University Police officials are also focusing on the high number of campus bike thefts and have dispatched two tactical bike patrols specifically assigned to combat such thefts. For example, officers stop young kids on campus for truancy violations during the school day in order to deter bike thefts by juveniles. "The true picture of the semester isn't only the 23 percent drop in crime, it's the what-ifs," Rush said. "If police are working on the small things? it's also helping a kid stay straight."