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crime on campus

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jimotis4heisman

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http://dispatch.com/national-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/01/20/20060120-A4-02.html

Crime remains ongoing problem in OSU area
Friday, January 20, 2006
John Futty
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
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The abduction and slaying of Stephanie Hummer prompted an outcry about crime near the Ohio State University campus a dozen years ago, but it didn’t put an end to the problem.
This week, OSU police issued three crime alerts after armed robberies near campus.
In one incident, a 21-year-old student was robbed of his wallet and cellphone by two gunmen who struck him on the head at E. 14 th and Indianola avenues — one block east of where Hummer was last seen alive.
"We believe these are three separate, distinct events that are in no way tied together," OSU Assistant Police Chief Rick Amweg said.
"But it’s a reminder that we live in an urban environment where these things can happen."
The federal Cleary Act requires universities to issue "timely warnings" when the school is aware of a crime that poses an ongoing threat to students and employees.
In 2005, OSU police issued 20 crime alerts, 15 after robberies on or near campus.
Thirteen crime alerts were issued in 2004, six for robberies.
Crime is rare on campus, but the neighborhoods immediately south and east of the university are densely populated and some are plagued by problems.
Dozens of apartments were burglarized during the recent winter break, with burglars hitting nearly every apartment in two complexes.
"The campus area has always been a happy hunting ground for criminals," said Columbus Police Officer Lawrence Geis, the community liaison officer for the University District.
He said students who live in and visit the district are seen as easy marks because they leave valuables in unlocked cars and apartments and don’t take enough precautions while out after dark.
"Some students put themselves in dangerous situations," he said. "They walk alone after dark and instead of walking on main streets, they’d rather cut 50 feet off the walk by cutting behind a building or down an alley."
Today’s OSU students are largely unaware of the Hummer homicide nearly 12 years ago.
And most who spoke with a Dispatch reporter this week were only vaguely aware of the recent armed robberies.
But they know the area can be dangerous.
"It’s not good," said Faraz Rahman, a junior from Upper Arlington who lives east of campus. "My roommate’s car got broken into and a friend of mine got mugged on Chittenden (Avenue)."
Three sophomores eating pizza at a N. High Street shop said students aren’t careful enough.
"As long as you take care of your stuff, it’s safe," said Brian Morris, of Cincinnati. "A lot of people don’t lock their doors."
Kevin Costa, of Pittsburgh, said he tries to stick to busy streets when walking alone.
But all three said news about crime in the campus area doesn’t alter their behavior.
"I don’t think, ‘Oh, I’m not going out now,’ " Morris said.
Ron Hupman, president of the University Area Commission, said the area has become defined by major crimes such as the Hummer abduction, but property crimes are the most prevalent problem.
"There has been a tremendous increase in the number of break-ins of cars," he said.
OSU and Columbus police are increasing patrols in the area as a result of the robberies.
"The biggest message for students is to use common sense," Officer Geis said. "At home, their parents laid down rules to keep them safe. Now that they’re on their own, they may not want to follow those rules, and they set themselves up to become victims."
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The robberies on south campus over winter break were the incidents that really stood out. The robbers broke into the landlords office and grabbed the master key for the complex and just went door to door. Another incident involved a skilled lock-picker; if you can pick one lock in the complex, the rest are just as easy cause all the locks are the same make. Funny thing is it seemed like 11th, Chit, and all of those streets were now the "nice" areas of campus cause of the Gateway, but shit still goes down further east near Indianola.

The break-ins are the most preventable - take the nice shit out of your car. And don't be dumb about it either...if you're going to take the headunit out of your car don't put it in your glove compartment or in your center console, thats the first place I'd-....err....someone else would check. If you're rolling around campus with a sub bangin in your trunk, you just make yourself a target. If you're too stubborn to take the nice stuff out of plain view in your car, then leave it unlocked - atleast that way you don't have to deal with a broken window.
 
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tibor75 said:
It's just amazing how many people walk alone at night.
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It is. I shouldn't talk, though. I think it's easy to have a sense of invincibility - when I first got to campus I had it... sadly, it took the Stephanie Hummer incident during my freshman year to wake me up to the fact that it probably wasn't the best idea... And I'm still guilty of walking alone too often, though I have since taken (and helped teach) some self defense classes, and I carry pepper spray.

On and around campus, though, it really is unnecessary. For anyone who can't arrange to walk with friends, the police department has the Student Safety Service - they'll provide free walking or driving escorts until 3:00 a.m. When I worked there years ago, the boundaries extended north to Hudson and south to Fifth Avenue, plus to Olentangy Village... Not too many students live outside of those boundaries.
 
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Thump said:
Why every college girl doesn't carry around pepper spray with them on their keychain is beyond me.
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Carrying the pepper spray is only half the battle. There are right ways to use it (or, at least better ways...). I think self defense should be mandatory for freshmen. Not sure who's teaching it now, but the guys who used to teach the self defense HPER classes (health/phys. ed. department - whatever they used to call it - I think it's different now anyway), were wonderful.
 
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PrincessPeach said:
Carrying the pepper spray is only half the battle. There are right ways to use it (or, at least better ways...). I think self defense should be mandatory for freshmen. Not sure who's teaching it now, but the guys who used to teach the self defense HPER classes (health/phys. ed. department - whatever they used to call it - I think it's different now anyway), were wonderful.
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When my wife is walking back to her car, she always has 911 typed in with her finger on the talk button just in case.

Nowadays, most cell phones have GPS in case you dial 911 and aren't able to speak.
 
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And what is even worse is some of the guys that do it to. If you look at the one report in three days it was guys who were robbed at gun point.

I don't care how big you are, there isn't anyone who can take a bullet
 
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Thump said:
When my wife is walking back to her car, she always has 911 typed in with her finger on the talk button just in case.

Nowadays, most cell phones have GPS in case you dial 911 and aren't able to speak.
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I've heard that you can dial 911 on a cell phone even if you don't have an active phone. All you need is a charged battery and it will go through... anyone know if this is really true?
 
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