For public transport areas, greater crime rates

The 40th Street border between Penn’s campus and West Philadelphia has seen shootings, car theft, and assaults this year. SEPTA’s presence, as well as several other factors, may contribute to the area’s predisposition for crime.

Foot traffic concentrates around SEPTA transportation stops, providing more opportunities for criminals, according Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush.

“Unfortunately, [SEPTA stops] can draw the wrong population,” said Rush.

Two public transportation hubs — the trolley station on 40th and Baltimore streets and the subway stop on 40th and Market streets — mark the fringes of the Penn area and off-campus housing.

Higher volumes of people, as well as higher crime rates, come from those stations, Rush said. The residential nature of the area also makes it more prone to crime.

The exposure of 40th Street to the West Philadelphia community “gives people the opportunity to come in, dabble and leave,” both with violent crime and petty thefts, Rush said.

Penn has “natural barriers” to the east with the Schuykill river, the north with Drexel University and the south with parks, said Rush. The only junction between West Philadelphia and Penn’s campus, however, is 40th Street.

Student housing also contributes to crime along 40th Street.

The housing attracts certain types of crime — mainly theft and burglary, Rush said.

“I think just like there are people who do different jobs in the real world, in the criminal world, some people are burglars, some are robbers,” she said. “There’s a bigger crowd of people” living past 40th Street which allows more opportunity for those who specialize in theft.

College and Wharton sophomore Jonathon Franco, who lives on 45th Street, said he does not feel as safe on the west side of campus as he does on the east side. His wallet was stolen while shopping at a CVS on 43rd Street earlier this year.

“I don’t know if it’s necessarily indicative,” Franco said, but he believes the incident reflects the difference between the sides of campus.

Perceived lower safety does not necessarily hinder students from living in the area, though.

Steve Smith, a Bioengineering masters student, lives on the 4100 block of Locust Street. He said safety did not greatly affect his decision to live past 40th Street.

“I prefer to live as close to campus as possible,” he said. “I wouldn’t move much further west, but it’s a mix of things. It’s the convenience of living close to campus,” he explained.

“There’s a little bit of a safety [issue],” Smith said, but it does not faze him.

The businesses, restaurants and bars along 40th Street may also draw crime to the 40th street area, said Penn Police Chief Mark Dorsey.

“[40th Street] is attractable, which is good. We have a movie theater, we have eateries, and that’s a plus for our environment,” he said.

Good or bad, Dorsey said, “you just have to be conscious of your surroundings.”

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