Patrol zone sees overall crime decrease in March

Three months into the new year, crime in the Penn Patrol Zone has been declining.

This March, total crime went down three percent overall in comparison to March 2011.

Crime against person decreased 80 percent from ten to two incidents, while crime against property rose from 48 to 54 incidents, a 13-percent increase.

Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush said, “We’re on a good trend.”

Total crime in February decreased 36 percent compared to February 2011, and January crime decreased 22 percent from last year.

This March, the number of theft from buildings decreased particularly. “The library has practically had zero crime,” Rush said. In addition, there were zero robberies this past month.

Rush commended officers who are “ever vigilant and out there” for contributing to the reduction in crime.

Rush said the main issue the Division of Public Safety dealt with this past month was bike theft.

In March, 15 bike thefts occurred compared to only five in March of last year. The problem is currently being combated with a new partnership involving PennCycle — a new bike-sharing program — Rush said.

“Our goal is that incoming freshmen won’t need to bring a bicycle,” she explained.

Rush said despite people using correct lock types — such as the U-lock — they “have their own methodology.”

Rush warns students to put themselves in the position of the person trying to take their bicycle and act accordingly.

However, if bicycle theft is “the biggest thing we have to worry about, that’s a success,” she added.

By targeting the relatively less serious crime of bike theft, Rush hopes to send a message to perpetrators that they aren’t welcome on campus.

She does ask students to “think long and hard about how they operate in a community.” Rush hopes that by doing so, students will be able to “increase their options on how to reduce being a victim.”

With Spring Fling around the corner, Rush looks forward to upcoming police work to protect students.

Her goal is to “successfully close this semester.”

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