October brought more mischief than usual to campus this year.
Crime increased by 25 percent this October, with the number of all incidents rising from 67 in October 2011 to 84 in October 2012.
According to Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush, much of this increase can be attributed to a “one woman crime wave” that contributed to a 95 percent increase in theft from buildings.
Rush said the female suspect committed several thefts. After DPS identified the woman, and the suspect realized Penn Police was on her trail, she began stealing at Temple University.
Because DPS is in constant communication with other universities such as Drexel and Temple, Temple Campus Safety Services was also able to identify her and arrest her. Penn Police also had a warrant for her arrest.
Partly due to the jump from 20 thefts from buildings in October 2011 to 39 in October 2012, general crime against property increased 29 percent from last October. There were 58 incidents in October 2011 and 75 in October this year..
Rush hopes the number of crimes against property will go down in November with the female suspect out of the picture. However, this does not mean DPS will practice less caution moving forward.
“There is an army of people willing to take [the female suspect’s] place,” Rush said. “The only way to stop other people is to take away their opportunity.”
Additionally, retail theft rose 63 percent, with the number of incidents increasing from eight in October 2011 to 13 in October 2012.
Most of these cases occurred in retail “hotspots” such as Urban Outfitters at 36th and Sansom streets, American Apparel at 37th and Walnut streets, and the CVS stores on 34th and 39th and Walnut streets.
According to Rush, DPS has met with representatives from these locations and they have collaboratively decided to implement several new security procedures.
On a more positive note, there was an 83 percent decrease in theft from automobiles. There were six incidents in October 2011 and only one in October 2012. According to Rush, DPS works closely with AlliedBarton Security, doing routine checks of parking garages and on the streets to prevent this type of theft.
Bike theft also decreased from 15 incidents in October 2011 to 11 in October 2012 — a 27 percent decrease.
Despite the upswing of criminal activity this October, Rush said “[DPS] is still curving positive,” as there is a 9 percent decrease in crime so far in 2012 from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31 compared to the same period in 2011.
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