Crime numbers steady in Penn Patrol Zone for January | Interactive graphic
Simple assaults and burglaries rise, bike thefts are down
· February 12, 2009, 5:00 am
The total number of crimes in the Penn Patrol Zone in January 2009 is the same as this month in 2008.
Although the total number stayed fixed at 60, crimes against people increased from five to eight and crimes against property decreased from 55 to 52, according to the Division of Public Safety.
The number of robberies and the number of forcible sex offenses remained constant from last year to this year at three and one, respectively.
Burglaries doubled from three last year to six this year.
Bike thefts decreased a significant 75 percent, going from four last year to only one this year.
The decrease in bike thefts is a result of more students using U-locks to secure their bikes, according to Undergraduate Assembly member and College sophomore Alec Webley.
"Bicycles should be secured using a high grade U-lock at all times," according to the DPS Web site. "Cable locks are easily defeated and are ineffective in deterring theft."
DPS spokeswoman Stef Cella credited the UA with helping to promote better bike protection.
Webley said the decrease in bike thefts shows the success of Operation Theft Awareness, a collaborative educational campaign to reduce theft of unattended property.
"We've been working with local retailers to stop selling cable locks," he said.
Last week, the UA also passed the Bike Safety Proposal, an initiative to transform Penn into a more bike-friendly campus.
A summary of crime statistics for the month of January:
No homicides were reported this year or last year.
Total robberies remained constant at three.
Forcible sex offenses remained constant at one.
No aggravated assaults were reported this year or last year.
Simple assaults increased from one in 2008 to four in 2009.
Burglaries jumped from three last year to six this year.
No arsons were reported in 2008 or 2009.
One auto theft was reported this year, up from zero last year.
Thefts from cars fell from six last year to four this year.
Bike thefts decreased from four last year to one this year.
All other thefts decreased from 42 last year to 40 this year.
This article has been updated to reflect an error in the interactive graphic. In the original version, the graph incorrectly showed eight crimes against people in 2008 and five in 2009, and 52 crimes against property in 2008 and 55 in 2009. The correct numbers are five crimes against people in 2008 and eight in 2009, and 55 crimes against property in 2008 and 52 in 2009.




Comments (4)
Typical
December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm
Flag this comment
Prameet Kumar is a dumbass!
B. Peel
December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm
Flag this comment
Who made the mistake? The reporter or DPS.
Emily Babay, online editor
December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm
Flag this comment
Thanks to the first commenter for pointing out the error in the graph. In the original version, the bars for 2008 and 2009 were switched for the total crimes against people and the total crimes against property data. We've updated the graph to reflect the correct numbers. The data DPS provided was correct, and Prameet's article was also accurate.
Is your chart correct?
December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm
Flag this comment
Your chart and narrative don't match!
Comments are closed for this item.