Crime rate on campus falls in 1996

Overall campus crime in 1996 was down compared with 1995, according to Lt. Judi King of Cal State Long Beach campus police. "Students tend to think that they are in a protected ball when they are in a university," said Sgt. Bonnie S. Myers of CSULB Police.

Reported sexual assault and rape cases stayed the same from 1995 to 1996, according to unofficial statistics gathered by Lt. King. Reported robbery cases decreased from three in 1995 to two in 1996. Reported aggravated assaults cases fell from 17 to three and reported burglary cases dropped dramatically from 70 to 39. However, reported car theft cases increased from 48 to 50.

There have been more arrests in 1996 than in 1995. Overall, there were 33 arrests last year.

Public Safety offers an evening escort service for all students. The students can be picked up and escorted to their vehicles or to the residence halls, according to Lt. King.

"I would never let my girlfriend take any night classes, unless I took the same class with her," Alen Vellpradit, 23, a criminal justice major at CSULB said. "It's extremely dangerous for a girl to walk alone on campus at night."

Students can request the Student Right to Know Report, which contains campus crime statistics published by University Police, at the University Police Department located between Lot C and Lot 9 in the Plant Operations Building on Palo Verde Avenue.

"The reports are available to all students," Lt. King said. The on-campus emergency phone number is 911 or students can use any of the public telephones on campus and press the police key, according to Lt. King. The non-emergency phone number is 985-4101.

"The phone will automatically connect the student to us [police]," Lt. King said. "Students can use Code Blue Phones on campus in case of an emergency."