Juveniles incite crime on campus

A four-block stretch of Locust Street was subject to five violent crimes during the first week of July, prompting the Division of Public Safety to issue an alert on juvenile crime.

Two robberies and three assaults - all reportedly committed by juveniles - occurred between 39th Street and Locust Walk and 43rd and Locust streets between July 3 and 7, DPS officials said. An indecent assault and a theft, both reported to have been committed by juveniles, also happened on or near campus.

DPS issued an alert in response to the crimes the evening of July 13.

In all of the incidents, the complainants were approached by a group of juveniles around the ages of 9 to 13. None of the crimes involved a weapon.

Three Penn students, one professor and a University employee were among the complainants. Two complainants - the professor and the Penn employee - received medical treatment at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

One robbery resulted in the arrest of two male juveniles. Penn Police officers also stopped male juveniles after two assaults on July 7. In those cases, no arrest was made because the complainants could not positively identify the suspects, DPS spokeswoman Karima Zedan said.

Still, the pedestrian stops are "a proactive way of preventing these kids from coming back here," Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush said. She added that actions of the stopped youth, such as trying to escape from the police, indicated they were involved in the assaults.

DPS has increased the number of officers on the streets, monitored the area via CCTV cameras and adjusted deployment strategies since the incidents began, Rush said.

A number of juveniles have also been arrested for disorderly conduct and curfew violations. Rush said it is still unknown whether these juveniles are connected to any of the robberies or assaults.

Some juveniles arrested in the disorderly conduct and curfew incidents - and their parents - were informed that the juveniles are suspects in the robbery and assault cases, Rush said.

"We're hoping that we're pre-emptive in preventing more instances," she said.

West Philadelphia has experienced a "rash" of juvenile crime for several weeks, said Philadelphia Police Sgt. Charles Layton.

Different juveniles have likely been involved in each crime, Rush said, citing variations among the victims' descriptions of their attacks and assailants. Layton, however, said he believes there is a fairly consistent group whose members vary in each incident.

The recent crimes cast a bad light on area youth, Rush said.

"It puts people at fear when they see little children, and that's a shame," she said.

Tiffany Reed, a West Philadelphia resident who has taken classes at Penn, said a group of juveniles approached her and tried to take her cell phone Tuesday night near 44th and Chestnut streets, which lies outside the Penn patrol zone. The incident has made her uncomfortable around men on the street.

"I don't like feeling afraid of these children," Reed, 24, wrote in an e-mail.

A rundown of the incidents:

n The robbery of a male University employee, 39, on July 7 at about 5:10 p.m. on the 4200 block of Locust Street, who was treated at HUP for a nose fracture and a cut under the eye.

Two male juveniles, ages 13 and 16, both of West Philadelphia, were arrested in connection with the incident and face charges of robbery, aggravated assault and other related offenses.

n The assault of a male visiting professor, 44, near 43rd and Locust streets at about 9 p.m. on July 3. Four male juveniles reportedly punched and kicked the professor, who was treated at HUP for cuts and bruises to his arm and shoulder.

n The assault of a male student, 21, at about 10:15 p.m. on July 7 near 39th and Locust streets.

n The indecent assault of a female student, 20, near 33rd and Chestnut streets on July 10 at about 5 p.m.

n The cell phone of a female student, 21, was taken July 3 in the 3700 block of Locust Street at about 10 p.m.

n The attempted robbery of a man, 43, unaffiliated with the University on the 4200 block of Locust Street on July 3 at about 10 p.m.

n The assault of a man, 28, unaffiliated with the University in the 4000 block of Locust street at about 10 p.m. on July 7.

Comments (45)

Where were all these additional officers before "redeployment?" If Rush is so high on "pre-emptive" action, why not do the "pre-empting" before all these crimes occur? Sounds to me the Penn Police is good at closing the barn doors after the horses run out.

Personal protection from crime begins with the individual. So long as members of the UPenn community continue to set themselves up as easy targets, they will continue to be victimized and DPS will continue to be reacting to assaults after they occur. Things to think about are - Don�?t chatter on your cell phone while walking at night; don�?t walk around with your Ipod in your ears; take constant notice of your surroundings and adjust if something doesn�?t feel/look right (and don�?t allow your own sense of Political Correctness to put you into an uncomfortable and/or dangerous situation); when out at night don�?t wear flip-flops or other shoes that you can�?t run in. Finally, arm yourself so if you can�?t avoid the situation, you can fight back. This can be with pepper spray, a loud pocket air-horn or even a firearm. The most important thing is for you to survive (preferably unharmed). Once the would-be assailants no longer thing Penn is an easy target, they will move onto another location.

oh, yeah... and don't go out at night by your self if you don't have too. Thier is always protection in numbers.

Having been accosted twice by roving gangs of juveniles, it is difficult to follow normal safety precautions. Oftentimes, juveniles are trying to prove themselves so they don't react to the normal deterrants. There is alos the group think mentality which - along with young age - overrides any sense of individual consequences. The best way to deal with such situations is pre-emptive action. When groups of young males who appear to be roving about looking for trouble, are seen, they should be avoided by going into a store or somehow getting some distance away from them. The next good thing to do would be to notify Penn Security. Breaking these groups up or contacting their parents is a good way to thwart what violent and senseless assualt they are bound to do next.

[QUOTE id="71b8afb3-2328-418e-a00a-be53743d842f"]Where were all these additional officers before "redeployment?" If Rush is so high on "pre-emptive" action, why not do the "pre-empting" before all these crimes occur? Sounds to me the Penn Police is good at closing the barn doors after the horses run out.[/QUOTE] If you check the DP archives you will find dozens of articles where Maureen Rush says the same damm thing and uses the same deployment strategies. She has to use the same deployment stategies because once the "uptick" subsides she pulls everything back until another "uptick" appears. Wake up Penn we deserve better...demand better...

Is it time to have a militia roving campus, taking out groups of pre-teens hanging around? In other cities, cops have a sting where an undercover poses as a seemingly helpless person, and when they get attacked, the team in hiding strikes. This would be sweet, but without even addressing entrapment issues, our cops probably don't have the resources or the guts to do this anyway. Why aren't people more outraged by this? No one should have to go to HUP at 5pm to get their nose reset and get a cut closed up under their eye.

.......if 3 or 4 9-13 yrs old attempted to accost me I would try and grab one of them and scream bloody murder until someone came (stupidly assuming their cretin friends would probably trake off and leave him). Then I would file charges and insist on hearing the outcome/penalty. One thing we never hear from the DP is what happens to these poor disadvanteged children when they are caught. What is done to keep them from coming back? Like, I said, it may be stupid, but in a perfect world.......

The problem is how do you respond when a child attacks you? If I defend myself, I know the little bastards' parents will sue me.

It cracks me up when you Ivy pretenders think you are better than everyone else just because daddy could afford to send you to SAT tutoring and filled in the yes box for legacy on the app. If Penn is so concerned about crime, why put all these expensive stores and restaurants here that scream "Penn kids have money." And stop making up neighborhood names like "University City" and "Spruce Hill" just so you don't have to tell people Penn is in West Phila. Let's face it, most of you dreamed of spending 4 years in New Haven or Cambridge before landing here. Make the best of it and stop getting all scared over a few punks.

[QUOTE id="19ef5e20-4cf7-4f39-a67f-fae062f6f0fa"] In other cities, cops have a sting where an undercover poses as a seemingly helpless person, and when they get attacked, the team in hiding strikes. This would be sweet, but without even addressing entrapment issues, our cops probably don't have the resources or the guts to do this anyway. [/QUOTE] How the hell is it entrapment to have an undercover cop standing on a street waiting to get mugged by these little bastards?

Funny thing is these kids don't just mess with Ivy pretenders. I'm a rather large, menacing looking guy that doesn't look like what it seems you think most Penn students look like who has had problems with young kids around Penn. I've been confronted by groups of kids while walking home from work. Thankfully, they didn't push the issue and I didn't do anything stupid and nothing big happened. I just got lucky though. These kids were looking for trouble and anything could have happened. I grew up in a place where young kids are heavily involved in gangs and sometimes it just doesn't matter who you are or what you're doing/not doing they just decide you're the lucky one that day and stuff happens. [QUOTE id="031ae90d-4d8a-458e-ab01-94c62eb310d3"]It cracks me up when you Ivy pretenders think you are better than everyone else just because daddy could afford to send you to SAT tutoring and filled in the yes box for legacy on the app. If Penn is so concerned about crime, why put all these expensive stores and restaurants here that scream "Penn kids have money." And stop making up neighborhood names like "University City" and "Spruce Hill" just so you don't have to tell people Penn is in West Phila. Let's face it, most of you dreamed of spending 4 years in New Haven or Cambridge before landing here. Make the best of it and stop getting all scared over a few punks.[/QUOTE]

Penn Student Shoots and Kills Attackers "Penn Police Sting Ends in Neighborhood Deaths" "Students Respond with Violence" "Homeless Man Killed by Car"

Um, how about: "West Philly Townwatch Stronger than Ever" "Penn Students Volunteer for Townwatch as part of Community Service Program" "Fed-up Neighborhood Mom Leads New Townwatch Effort" "Police Start new Townwatch Training Program" "Crime Disappears as West Philly Takes to the Streets"

[QUOTE id="07ec38eb-8067-4783-97a0-a8423ffd0101"]Um, how about: "West Philly Townwatch Stronger than Ever" "Penn Students Volunteer for Townwatch as part of Community Service Program" "Fed-up Neighborhood Mom Leads New Townwatch Effort" "Police Start new Townwatch Training Program" "Crime Disappears as West Philly Takes to the Streets"[/QUOTE] WORD.

Let's break down your sheer stupidity in a numbered format: 1. The existence of expensive restaurants does not justify attacking and robbing people. If you don't like the fact that someone has more than you, move out of a capitalist country. Now, the reality of the matter dictates that we have to hide our cell phones and iPods so we don't get robbed, but when people post shit along the lines of "that's what you get for flaunting your iPod" blahblahwoofwoof, that's horseshit-- I should be able to walk down the street with a gold nugget glued to my forehead if i want to. People are legally ENTITLED to their personal safety in America, regardless of how arrogant they may be. 2. The expensive restaurants that you believe scream "penn kids have $" really are not even for the kids-- they're to woo potential professors, investors, faculty ... go pop your head into Penne or La Terasse some day and see who's REALLY eating at those places. Jackass. 3. Say what you want about the evils of gentrification, but honestly, West Philly-- University City, whatever you want to call it-- just LOOKS BETTER. if you want to live in a dilapidated shit-hole all your life, which you probably do because youre a W. Philly native, maybe you should take your show on up to Detroit. 4. I got into both Harvard and Yale (and Princeton for that matter), but chose Penn. I am also the first person in my family to go to college, and there are a ton of us like that here-- go check out the financial aid office if you don't believe me-- so maybe you should chew up and swallow your sour grapes about legacy brats. 5. Go fuck yourself.

[QUOTE id="67f403fe-49d4-458d-9dab-24cba162f9e2"]child or not, if a roving gang of young thuggy kids attempted to mug me, id put at least a few of them in the hospital. i don't care if they were 10 or 17!!![/QUOTE] I agree that SOMEONE is going to snap and beat the crap out of one of the little creeps, stupid as that may be. I'd definitely feel the temptation to do it if they came up to me. They would certainly deserve it. However, keep in mind that besides their own safety, whoever decides to take this chance will probably have to deal with the A. Sharptons/J. Jacksons of the world and will more than likely end up being charged with assualt themselves....remember, these kids have had a rough time of it....they are entitled to have a little fun.

Unfortunately, though their closed off to vehicular traffic, Woodland ave. (walk), 35th, 36th, 37th, 39th and Locust streets are still public highways and open to any member of the public who wishes to walk along them. The Penn community, and by that I mean the students, must take security of the campus as a personal affair. Here�?s an idea, why don�?t the Fraternities join, or form) a town watch and actually go out on patrol themselves. Take control of your own safety and destiny.. because no one else will. [QUOTE id="e50a4377-5cab-4c9d-926a-2eabd1dbcb34"]The best deterrent is an armed citizenry . Shoot to kill . Private property and personal , bodily violations can be met with deadly force . While "pre-emptive" action maybe effective sometime , there exists the fact that presumption and prejudice can cloud reason , this can actually create an adversarial situation - where none existed before . Penn however , owns and should control who can enter her property . Why is it then ...that Penn has engaged in trespassing of the most egregious nature ? Information indicates that Penn machinated with law enforcement to manipulate , harass and extort individuals in their homes using covert cameras . Disregard of laws and common decency , under the guize of pre-emption , is a stain on Penns reputation . Is Rodin not to be held accountable ?[/QUOTE]

The best deterrent is an armed citizenry . Shoot to kill . Private property and personal , bodily violations can be met with deadly force . While "pre-emptive" action maybe effective sometime , there exists the fact that presumption and prejudice can cloud reason , this can actually create an adversarial situation - where none existed before . Penn however , owns and should control who can enter her property . Why is it then ...that Penn has engaged in trespassing of the most egregious nature ? Information indicates that Penn machinated with law enforcement to manipulate , harass and extort individuals in their homes using covert cameras . Disregard of laws and common decency , under the guize of pre-emption , is a stain on Penns reputation . Is Rodin not to be held accountable ?

same thing happens up at syracuse.. weve had crimes involving ten year olds.. everything from harrassing students to bike theft... i dont believe its progressed to the point of assault yet however

child or not, if a roving gang of young thuggy kids attempted to mug me, id put at least a few of them in the hospital. i don't care if they were 10 or 17!!!

Just remember that one of these "children" could easily have a gun. You might want to consider that possibility as you talk about giving them a well-deserved beating. Just about every creep in Philly seems to own a gun. There is no combination more dangerous than a gun, young kid, no conscience, no judgment, strutting with his homies, wanting your money/stuff. The bigger question I have is why groups like this feel comfortable enough to wander around on campus. Is security afraid of charges of profiling if they question them? If so, how about if security at least tails them. And what about the great CCTV? Isn't anyone watching for these suspicious groups and maybe sending someone out pre-emptively? Or are they just waiting to record the assault? I say put a guard on every corner. It's ok with me if the place looks like the protected green zone in Baghdad. It's apparent that Penn needs to do more.

The article notes one of the crimes: "The assault of a male visiting professor, 44, near 43rd and Locust streets at about 9 p.m. on July 3. Four male juveniles reportedly punched and kicked the professor, who was treated at HUP for cuts and bruises to his arm and shoulder." I doubt that visiting professor will be anxious to come back to Penn. Great p.r. for Penn.

I think it's time to cool the rhetoric. Vigilanteism is what gave us lynching throughout the south before it was specifically outlawed in 1949. There are also people who are not well balanced who fall for the "shoot first and ask questions later." Some of them end up with a life sentence for murder. A waste of two lives. Everybody take a deep breath and try to recall when you were young and stupid, and did some foolish things. Fraternities or simply drinking parties are a good locus for this kind of foolishness. Numbers of young college kids die from alcohol poisoning; or drunk, fall down a set of stairs to their death (on Penn's campus). What about the teen car accidents? Many of them seem to be white and affluent kids. There's all kind of stupid, much of it associated with youth. Many should be grateful that they survived it. Let's hope these kids will survive theirs. Once again preemptive identification of these groups and quick action to break them up, report them to their parents and otherwise make them accountable before they make a serious mistake and someone is killed. Let Penn security and the Philadelphia police do their job. Join a Campus Watch group if you want to really do something.

There is a huge difference between getting drunk, falling down, or even being in a car wreck compared to what these kids are doing. No comparison. These kids are purposely cruising the area looking for an easy mark and often physically assaulting them. I consider that to be more than a mere youthful indiscretion. And good luck if you think the "parents" are going to have some influence. The lack of adequate parenting is why these kids are predators.

What characterizes the behavior of some youth is high risk activity. I'm not comparing the malicious intent to harm an individual with the non-malicious non-intent to harm while under the influence. Yet the harm done to self and others can be equally deadly and legally liable. For instance through car accidents, collateral damage, alcoholic poisoning and, as I remember, a case of gang rape (another activity in one of Penn's Fraternities that got them suspended for a while) much harm is thoughtlessly done to the families, institutions and society as a whole. So why not give these kids the benefit of the doubt that they are also operating under the influence, if not alcohol, then by group think fueled by juvenile anger and a need to prove oneself.