Photo Illustration by MANDY WHITING Backpacks left
outside of lockers are an easy target for thieves.
By Robert Salonga
Daily Bruin Staff
Freshmen and transfer students busy learning UCLA’s 8-clap
should be aware of a campus problem that might not steal their
school spirit, but their wallets instead.
Campus crime is a regular occurrence at large universities like
UCLA, where daytime population can reach 70,000, according to
university police.
“We’re open to the general public and anyone can
come on campus,” said Nancy Greenstein, community services
director for UCPD.
In 2000, UCPD received 1,057 reports of theft, making it the
most common crime committed at UCLA. This number excludes
automobiles and bicycles, which are counted separately.
Among the most common items stolen are laptop computers,
cellular phones, backpacks and parking permits.
 Original Graphic by VICTOR CHEN/Daily Bruin Web
Adaptation by MIKE OUYANG/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Police said many
thefts occur when owners leave their property unattended.
“In some cases, students in the library will leave their
laptop behind, assuming that it will be there after they go the
rest room or take a break,” said Robert Sadeh, crime
prevention officer for UCPD. “It also happens in the
residence halls, where students will go away for a while, leaving
their doors propped open or unlocked.”
For added protection, students may register their computers into
the Security Tracking of Office Property program, otherwise known
as STOP, which embeds a highly pressurized identification plate
onto a computer. It can then be tracked through an international
database, and the tag cannot be removed without damaging the
computer.
UCPD also received 54 reports of stolen vehicles in 2000. Grand
theft auto, which occurs almost on a weekly basis, police said, is
due in part to the existence of approximately 22,000 parking spaces
throughout the campus.
“We park more cars than Los Angeles International
Airport,” Greenstein said.
Though this gives criminals a large selection of automobiles to
choose from, Sadeh said using common sense can greatly decrease
automobile theft. He said students should check that they’ve
locked car doors, and that items of value are not in plain
view.
Besides thefts, UCLA has its share of violent crimes. Of the 29
violent crimes ““ including rape, robbery and aggravated
assault ““ that occurred on and around campus in 2000, six of
the eight rapes reported were acquaintance rapes, in which the
victim knew her assailant.
Tina Oakland, director of the Center for Women and Men, said
women are often concerned with preventing stranger attacks, though
80 percent of rapes on college campuses nationwide are committed by
individuals they know.
“Students need to think beyond the traditional stranger
rape, because statistically, acquaintance rape is more
likely,” she said.
Because correlations exist between alcohol use and sexual
violence, Oakland said, students must monitor their consumption and
not leave their drinks unattended.
Assailants place drugs like rohypnol or gamma hydroxybutyrate
““ commonly known as GHB ““ in potential victims’
drinks, which leaves them unable to resist sexual advances. Oakland
said men must also be cautious because perpetrators have been known
to drug the men accompanying their victims.
To prevent assaults in areas such as the “rape
trail” ““ a poorly-lit dirt path that extends from
behind Saxon Suites to the Westwood apartments ““ Sadeh said
students should take notice of their surroundings and walk with a
friend at night.
“Walk in well-lit areas, and don’t take shortcuts in
areas that are hidden and dark,” he said.
Community service officers offer free escort services from
campus to a student’s residence hall or off-campus apartment
from dusk until 1 a.m. each night. In addition, an evening van
service running week nights from 6 p.m. until midnight provides
transportation to various locations on campus and surrounding
areas.
Greenstein urged students who believe something suspicious is
occurring or who feel unsafe to call police.
“Even if it turns out to be nothing, it’s OK. That
way we can respond and check it out,” she said.
Sadeh said students who think they are a victim of a crime
should report it immediately.
“Notify UCPD right away and utilize the resources of the
police department,” Sadeh said. “If it is fast enough,
we can catch a lot of criminals.”
To report a crime, contact UCPD at (310) 825-1491. To request a
CSO escort, call (310) 794-WALK.