Reports reveal an increase in off-campus crime

By Shannon Curley
Collegian Staff
October 4, 2006

La Salle students have become accustomed to seeing new security reports posted online and in the dorms about crime on and around the campus. Lately, however, there has been an increase in off-campus crime, particularly burglaries.

“There has been a definite spike in residential burglaries,” said Arthur Grover, director of Security and Safety.

The latest security alerts have primarily involved off-campus students. On Monday, Sept. 25, it was reported to Security and Safety that a student was assaulted and robbed at the intersection of 20th and Chew Streets at 8p.m. Another report involved an incident involving an off-campus residence earlier in September when an intruder entered an unlocked house and stole a laptop and a cell phone.

Security is required to make certain disclosures based on the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act which requires all “higher education institutions to give timely warnings of crimes that represent a threat to the safety of students or employees.”

There have been developments in both of the recent incidents. The intersection of 20th and Chew Streets is monitored by a video camera and detectives are examining the footage of the time of the assault because it shows “some elements of the incident,” said Grover.

There was also a burglary at the Hayman Center before the start of the school year, in which suspects broke into a locker room and stole items from the football team. When a police officer recently pulled a car over, he noticed several items he recognized as the man rummaged through his glove compartment. Some of these items were La Salle I.D. cards, and the discovery resulted in an arrest.

“There is an increased risk when students live off-campus” said Grover.

Despite this, some students haven’t been taking measures to ensure their safety. Most of the recent break-ins have not been forced entry, meaning the students left their doors unlocked.

It is important for residents of off-campus housing to make sure that all windows and doors are locked. Grover recommends making sure a residence is equipped with appropriate lighting and that the foliage is trimmed back.

“All of this does not guarantee that we’ll be able to move to a level of probable cause or that we’ll be able to make an arrest,” Grover said. “But I point this out as an indication that we continue to work on these incidents and we hope to resolve them. And we certainly hope to bring bad people to justice who are victimizing out students.”

curleys1@lasalle.edu