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news
Reported crime
low in first week
By Ben Dimapindan
On-line Forty-Niner
Reversing the typically
chaotic trend of first-week criminal activity, a new, heightened
standard of campus safety has been achieved thanks to the
precautionary measures taken by the University Police and
Cal State Long Beach students, according to University Police
Capt. Stan Skipworth.
Despite an off-the-chart
influx of students during this first week of classes, which
would presumably heat up the degree of criminal activity,
the number of reported crimes thus far is significantly lessened
in comparison to last semester. Also, the reported count of
serious crimes -- grand theft auto, vehicle break-ins -- is
nonexistent after the first three days of school.
"It is a drop,
definitely from last semester, I know that as a fact,"
Skipworth said. "For example, I think we had about eight
stolen vehicles on the first day last semester, and so far
no reported stolen vehicles and we haven't had any auto burglaries
either.
"We tried
to do some things to prepare for that," Skipworth said.
"We've learned a whole lot from studying what happened
last semester."
The main reason
behind the improved status of safety in regard to personal
property has directly resulted from students simply being
more careful.
"Yeah, I always
lock my doors and I always double check too," said sophomore
electrical engineering major Nathan Cruzado. "I bring
my backpack with me wherever I go, because one time I left
my it in the classroom and I went to the bathroom really quickly.
When I came back my $90 calculator was gone.
"I think people
are indifferent until they hear that something happened, then
they become more cautious of it."
In addition, the
University Police has specifically targeted new students to
inform them of how imperative it is to be mindful of their
belongings at all times.
"I think we
owe a lot to things like the University 100 classes and some
of the other student information programming that goes on
to help people prepare to coming onto campus," Skipworth
said.
"There are
people coming onto campus for the first time and...have been
able to instill in their own minds some good practices to
stay safe and keep track of their possessions."
Similarly, the
University Police has also made conscious efforts to ensure
that the hectic first week would have a much more secure environment
than in previous semesters.
"We've been
able to make some adjustments and consider some different
tactics over the course of the summer," Skipworth said.
"For example, some programming things, the way we deployed
our officers, the way we responded to traffic control in the
mornings as people came in to campus, and the way we emphasized
some personal safety procedures to people [were all contributing
factors]."
After three days
of classes, the University Police activity log has reported
only minor violations. Of those reports the only quasi-serious
infractions seem to be petty thefts, a lost wallet with $220
in cash and a bicycle valued at $175 stolen from the main
library.
As students increasingly
keep in mind the safety of themselves and their property,
the University Police is pleased to see that high level of
cooperation, especially since it allows them to focus on the
most arduous first-week problem - traffic.
"I think we
owe an awful lot to people exercising due caution," Skipworth
said. "[These students] deserve all the credit.
"I'm thrilled,
it makes our job easier," Skipworth said. "It makes
it easier in the sense that we can be out there concentrating
on things like the parking lots, the parking structure, a
lot of high traffic areas -- pedestrians and vehicles alike.
It gives us the chance to be seen more and be able to keep
track with that kind of activity."
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