UCLA Crime Burglary and misdemeanor drug
charges increased in the last year at UCLA, while violent crime
rates decreased SOURCE: University of California Police Department,
Los Angeles Original graphic by TIMOTHY NGO/Daily Bruin Senior
Staff Web adaptation by MIKE OUYANG/Daily Bruin Senior Staff
By By Jason Ahn
Daily Bruin Contributor
Thefts and drug-related crimes at UCLA continued to rise in
2000, according to statistics recently released by university
police.
According to the report, burglary and bicycle theft increased 30
and 70 percent, respectively, and narcotics misdemeanors soared 115
percent from the previous year.
Conversely, total violent crimes decreased by 28 percent.
Cellular phone, backpack and parking permit thefts also remain
high.
The increased thefts may be due to students’ lack of
caution, said Matt Ellis, Community Service Officer Resources and
Information coordinator.
“A lot of our crime is crime of opportunity made possible
by students leaving their personal property unattended,”
Ellis said.
“It is not a good idea to leave backpacks, laptops or
other personal belongings at the library or some other place, even
for a few minutes,” he continued.
According to Ellis, reminders that CSOs place on desks at the
libraries asking people to not leave personal items unattended
often go ignored.
Though burglary increased in 2000, it remains down overall from
years prior to 1999. Also, the decrease in motor vehicle thefts
from 58 in 1999 to 54 in 2000 marked the third consecutive year
such thefts have declined.
While violent crime is down overall, UCPD received reports of
six rapes and two attempted rapes in 2000. In six of those cases,
the victim knew their attacker, police said.
Nancy Greenstein, director of community services for UCPD,
attributed the overall decrease in violent crime to increased
participation in crime prevention education programs. Workshops
cover topics such as auto theft prevention, drug and alcohol
awareness, residential safety, sexual assault awareness and
workplace safety.
All schools receiving federal funds must report crime statistics
under the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and
Campus Crime Statistics Act, which took effect Oct. 1, 1998.
This legislation has significantly increased awareness of campus
crime, according to Greenstein.
But Mike Woods, crime analyst for UCPD, said crime reports alone
do not tell the whole story.
“Report of crime does not necessarily mean that there is
an analysis of it,” Woods said.
In February, UCPD purchased a computer program called Automated
Tactical Analysis of Crime to help identify trends or patterns in a
crime, Woods said.
The best thing students can do to achieve maximum personal
security is to utilize the evening vans and escort service system
provided by the CSOs, Woods said.
When any crime occurs, students should immediately report it,
Ellis said.
“If you report a crime around the time it happens, we can
respond a lot quicker,” he said. ” It might also
prevent the same crime from happening to another
person.”
Daily Bruin Contributor
Thefts and drug-related crimes at UCLA continued to rise in
2000, according to statistics recently released by university
police.
According to the report, burglary and bicycle theft increased 30
and 70 percent, respectively, and narcotics misdemeanors soared 115
percent from the previous year.
Conversely, total violent crimes decreased by 28 percent.
Cellular phone, backpack and parking permit thefts also remain
high.
The increased thefts may be due to students’ lack of
caution, said Matt Ellis, Community Service Officer Resources and
Information coordinator.
“A lot of our crime is crime of opportunity made possible
by students leaving their personal property unattended,”
Ellis said.
“It is not a good idea to leave backpacks, laptops or
other personal belongings at the library or some other place, even
for a few minutes,” he continued.
According to Ellis, reminders that CSOs place on desks at the
libraries asking people to not leave personal items unattended
often go ignored.
Though burglary increased in 2000, it remains down overall from
years prior to 1999. Also, the decrease in motor vehicle thefts
from 58 in 1999 to 54 in 2000 marked the third consecutive year
such thefts have declined.
While violent crime is down overall, UCPD received reports of
six rapes and two attempted rapes in 2000. In six of those cases,
the victim knew their attacker, police said.
Nancy Greenstein, director of community services for UCPD,
attributed the overall decrease in violent crime to increased
participation in crime prevention education programs. Workshops
cover topics such as auto theft prevention, drug and alcohol
awareness, residential safety, sexual assault awareness and
workplace safety.
All schools receiving federal funds must report crime statistics
under the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and
Campus Crime Statistics Act, which took effect Oct. 1, 1998.
This legislation has significantly increased awareness of campus
crime, according to Greenstein.
But Mike Woods, crime analyst for UCPD, said crime reports alone
do not tell the whole story.
“Report of crime does not necessarily mean that there is
an analysis of it,” Woods said.
In February, UCPD purchased a computer program called Automated
Tactical Analysis of Crime to help identify trends or patterns in a
crime, Woods said.
The best thing students can do to achieve maximum personal
security is to utilize the evening vans and escort service system
provided by the CSOs, Woods said.
When any crime occurs, students should immediately report it,
Ellis said.
“If you report a crime around the time it happens, we can
respond a lot quicker,” he said. ” It might also
prevent the same crime from happening to another person.”