UCLA Transportation Services and university police have stepped
up security measures on campus as the beginning of a new school
year nears.
These changes come on the heels of a string of robberies that
affected the UCLA community and Westwood over the summer.
Police said two men spent several nights in Westwood over the
summer taking money and property from victims.
Nine UCLA students were among the victims.
There have been no new incidences since Aug. 13.
The robberies all occurred between the hours of 9 p.m. and 1
a.m. as victims were walking alone to their cars or apartments.
Most of the victims were women.
The suspects, who do not appear to be working together, were
described by most victims as being black or possibly Hispanic,
ranging in height from 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet, weighing 170 to
200 pounds, and ages 19 to 24, according to an LAPD community
alert.
University Police Director of Community Services Nancy
Greenstein said the robberies are not an indication of rising crime
in Westwood and that once a case becomes covered by the local
media, as the robberies this summer were, criminals tend to move
someplace else.
She adds that people should trust their intuition.
“If there’s something that makes you uncomfortable,
go with that feeling. Go to some place that’s well lit. If
you’re close to a business, go in.”
In response to the recent robberies, the LAPD has directed extra
operatives to the area and is working with university police to
watch for the suspects.
As UCPD and LAPD officers work together to find the suspects,
students can also work to keep themselves safe by not walking alone
at night, Greenstein said.
“If you’re going to parties or out and about, go in
groups,” said Greenstein. “Be sure to be aware of your
surroundings. If you’re listening to music or reading, you
may not be aware of who’s around you.”
She also suggests using the Community Service Officer Escort
Services.
An officer will come and walk with any student, faculty or staff
member from dusk until 1 a.m.
Surleen Kaur, a second-year political science student, said she,
like Greenstein suggested, always buddies-up to go into Westwood,
especially when going places at night.
“I feel like the students here are really vigilant,”
Kaur said. “If people look kind of shady, I think students
tend to report that. I haven’t ever had a problem where I
felt unsafe.”
In regards to Transportation Services, officials anticipate an
increase in bicycle usage, due to increasing gas prices, and
possible increase in bicycle theft.
These predictions come at the end of a summer where several
robberies took place in Westwood.
According to a UCPD annual report on crime statistics, there
were 96 reported bicycle thefts at UCLA in 2004.
Sam Corbett, manager of planning and analysis for UCLA
Transportation Services, says cyclists must be careful about how
they lock their bikes.
“Use a combination of the U-Lock and a six-foot
cable,” he said. “You can ensure that you lock your
wheel and your frame to the bicycle rack. With one or the other,
it’s difficult to lock it all up.”
Corbett also advises cyclists not to leave their bikes for an
extended amount of time on campus, especially not more expensive
bikes that thieves might be more inclined to try and steal.
In recent months, Transportation Services has implemented
changes it has been planning for the cycling community over the
past few years. Part of the changes include the installation of
more bike racks and the addition of 20 bike lockers in parking lots
across campus.
The bike lockers fully enclose bikes separately and are secured
with a digital code that changes for each new user.
The lockers are available to all students, staff and faculty at
the price of 50 cents for the first three hours of usage and $1 for
24 hours, after an initial $5.95 membership fee for the locker
program.
UCPD dispatch can be reached at (310) 825-1491 or by dialing 911
from any on campus call box. 911 calls placed from a cell phone
will be redirected to California Highway Patrol, so UCPD recommends
students keep the UCPD dispatch number in their phones.