Seven sex crimes reported in April

Part of a year-to-date 25 percent increase in overall crime, forcible sex offenses saw a dramatic increase last month.

Seven forcible sex offenses were reported in April 2010, making the month’s total one half the 14 sex offenses reported in the entirety of 2009. None of 2009’s sex offenses were reported in April.

According to Vice President of Public Safety Maureen Rush, five of the incidents reported this April were acquaintance rapes, occurring between individuals known to one another.

She added that one of the incidents occurred in 2008 but was only recently reported.

All five incidents are under active investigation and victims have been provided support from DPS’s Department of Special Services.

“Unfortunately, this is one of the most under reported crimes across the country at universities,” Rush said. “Penn does a great job of educating both peer-to-peer and from University administration — it could be that the group of students here at Penn this year … feel so comfortable with the system they’re coming forward.”

Two of the five cases have not yet met the criteria for proceeding to criminal trial, according to Penn Police Chief Mark Dorsey.

The two cases not reported as acquaintance rapes were cases of indecent sexual assault in which the offender “tapped [the victim] on the bottom,” according to Rush.

According to data provided by DPS overall crime rates for April 2010 increased by 7.7 percent over crimes reported last April. The time period from January to April saw a 25.3-percent overall increase compared to the same period in 2009.

Apart from forcible sex offenses, aggravated assaults saw an increase from zero incidents reported last April to three reported last month.

According to Rush, one of the cases involved a domestic dispute, another road rage and the third disturbance by a customer at the Fresh Grocer at 40th and Walnut streets.

By contrast, retail thefts dropped by 71.4 percent from 14 incidents last April to four last month. Rush attributed the decline to the recent arrests of several “serial perpetrators” responsible for multiple crimes.

Theft from automobiles rose from six cases reported last April to 12 last month, three suspects were arrested for stealing from cars last month. Additional evidence and fingerprints corresponding to a fourth suspect have been obtained. Physical evidence from a fifth case was brought to a forensics laboratory to identify a suspect, according to Dorsey.

Rush emphasized the importance of ensuring that no belongings are left in plain view upon leaving one’s vehicle.

“If you leave a computer bag in the front seat or a GPS device in your window, you have a good chance of having your car broken into,” she said.

Rush explained that it is particularly important for students to safeguard their belonging during finals season, as perpetrators of thefts are aware that most students will leave Philadelphia following exams.

“If you aren’t in court for the hearing, [the offender] gets to walk,” she said. “People have to put their radar up and not have all their belongings exposed.”

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.