 "Photo: South End file photo")
Crime rates at Wayne State decreased in 2009, when compared to 2008, according to the latest Campus Watch report released by the Wayne State University Police Department in early January.
Between January and November 2009, there were fewer reported incidents of robbery, burglary, larceny and vehicle thefts compared to the same months in 2008.
Vehicle thefts saw the biggest decrease. In 2008, there were 183 reported thefts compared to 64 in 2009, a reduction of 65 percent. WSUPD Lt. David Scott attributes the decrease to many things, including the initiative to pass out vehicle clubs to WSU students with their valid OneCards.
“To date we have distributed close to 2,500 to 3,000,” Scott said. “And that makes the cars more difficult to steal. It doesn’t guarantee it they’re not getting stolen, but it makes it a whole lot tougher on the average, run-of-the-mill, juvenile car thief.”
Scott also credited the addition of 10 new officers — spread across three shifts — that were added in 2009, along with frequent crime mapping with help from the Center for Urban Studies.
“Every two weeks we can see where hot spots are occurring crime-wise,” he said. “And from that crime-mapping process that’s been ongoing now for several months, we can target specific areas for specific problems.”
Two types of crime saw an increase in frequency. The forcible sex offense count increased from three to eight instances. There was one aggravated assault reported in 2008 and two in 2009.
The state classifies forcible sex offenses as either forceful contact or fondling, or forceful penetration, according to Scott.
“I don’t know what to attribute that [forcible sex offenses] to,” he said. “It’s certainly not encouraging if that’s the way our younger population thinks they can take advantage of people at will.”
Scott also noted that students, faculty and staff should read the campus-wide crime e-mails to “raise awareness of crime problems and where they’re occurring.”
Not everyone looks at the e-mails with a critical eye.
“I usually briefly look them over,” said Paul Arquette, an assistant administrator in the computers and information technology department. “But I don’t spend a lot of time on them.”
Arquette said he has never been a victim of a crime at Wayne State, but knows of people who have. He also commented on the drastic reduction in motor vehicle thefts.
“It’s not noticeable to me, but it’s good news,” he said.
Carolyn Cunningham, who visits friends at Wayne State, said she uses the buddy system, in which friends travel in groups.
“I feel pretty safe because there’s somebody with you walking around,” she said.
Though many of the crimes saw a drop in occurrences during 2009, Scott said the police department is far from satisfied with the current numbers.
“Are we generally happy with the downward trend in crime? Yes,” he said. “Are we pleased? No.”
Scott says he expects to have the complete 2009 statistics compiled by mid-January.
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