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Property crimes among increases in university crime report
Sharita
Forrest , News Bureau
(217) 244-1072; slforres@illinois.edu
11/13/02
CHAMPAIGN,
Ill. -- Property crimes, robberies and criminal sexual assaults all
increased in the University of Illinois reporting district during the
reporting period from Sept. 1, 2001, to Aug. 31, 2002, according to
statistics released this week by the University of Illinois Division
of Public Safety.
Residential burglaries were up 52 percent, to 260 from 171 such incidents
during the Sept. 1, 2000 - Aug. 31, 2001, reporting period. Burglaries
from motor vehicles also were up 18 percent over the prior year, to
248 from 210 incidents. Burglaries of motor vehicle parts increased
from one incident the previous academic year to seven incidents during
the 2001-2002 reporting period. Likewise, burglaries increased 6 percent,
from 131 incidents the previous year to 139.
The majority of residential burglaries, burglaries and motor vehicle
burglaries occurred not on university property but in the northwest
quadrant of the university reporting district, an area roughly bounded
by University Avenue on the north, Daniel Street and Gregory Drive on
the south, Wright Street on the east and the railroad tracks east of
Neil Street on the west.
Home invasions, though, continued to show a downward trend, declining
to three incidents from six incidents the prior year.
Crimes against persons increased in two out of four reporting categories
during the Sept. 2001 - Aug. 31, 2002, reporting period.
Robberies increased 21 percent, to 41 robberies from 34 incidents the
prior year. During the same period of the 1999-2000 academic year, 41
robberies were reported.
The
number of criminal sexual assaults also increased, to 22 incidents from
18 cases the prior year. During the same period of the 1999-2000 academic
year, 20 criminal sexual assaults were reported.
Aggravated assaults and batteries declined to 112 incidents from 113
the previous year. Likewise, public indecency and peeping tom cases
decreased to 11 incidents from 13 the previous year.
The increased rates of certain crimes on and around campus are consistent
with national statistics, and police are taking measures to combat these
crimes, said Police Chief Oliver J. Clark.
However, Clark emphasized the importance of the public and the police working together to prevent crime.
The best defense is for men and women to be alert to their surroundings and take precautions, such as always trying to walk in groups, especially after dark, and using Safe Rides or escorts or taking the MTD to avoid walking alone, Clark said.
"It is also important that students take the time to check their residences and ensure their windows and doors have good locking devices," said Police Capt. Krystal Fitzpatrick. "Knowing your neighbors and developing a 'neighborhood crime watch' are also helpful."
People should call 911 or use the blue emergency phones on campus to report any suspicious activity or individuals they may see, police said.
"If you are in doubt, make the call," Clark said. "We would much rather answer a call about harmless activity than not be called about a crime in progress."
The university crime report includes incidents that occurred in an area extending from University Avenue on the north to Windsor Road on the south, Race Street on the east and the railroad tracks just east of Neil Street on the west.
Statistics on crime on the University of Illinois' Urbana-Champaign campus have been kept and publicly reported since 1995. The crime statistics are reported three times annually and in new student orientations and campus crime-prevention programs.
