Campus crime rates down

by Katy Knapp

Daily Lobo

UNM crime statistics for 2004 show a decrease in assaults and thefts on campus from 2003. The statistics were released Sept. 9.

There were three reported forced sexual assaults last year, and five in 2003. Reports of aggravated assault also declined from 12 in 2003 to six in 2004.

Robbery and burglary also decreased. In 2003, there were a reported 44 burglaries on campus, while there were only 33 reported in 2004.

UNM Police Cmdr. James Daniels said he wants to have better statistics in 2005.

"We want to make sure everyone has a safe semester," Daniels said.

He said he is trying to hire four more full-time officers to help make this possible. The UNM Police Department is a fully commissioned police force with 30 officers.

UNM student Benjamin Branch said he has always felt safe on campus, but that could be because he's male.

"It seems more of a problem for females," Branch said. "They're more at risk."

According to a study done by the American Association of University Women in 2004, 20 to 25 percent of women are raped during their college careers.

Daniels said even though burglaries are down, bike thefts are still a big problem on campus.

Lt. Patrick Davis said the department doesn't have numbers on how many bikes were reported stolen in the last year. He said the vast majority of thefts on campus are bicycles.

"I suggest people come into the department and get their bikes registered with us," Daniels said.

The bicycle's serial number is then put into a database so stolen bikes can be tracked, he said.

Maria Garcia, a sophomore, said she often hears of people stealing parts of a bicycle.

"I've heard of a lot of stolen bike tires and seats," Garcia said.

Daniels said for the most part, students aren't the ones committing the acts.

"It's mostly people from the outside," he said. "People from the UNM community are pretty solid."

While crimes reported to UNM police decreased in 2004, the number of arrests went up.

There were more arrests on campus for liquor, drug and weapons law violations in 2004 than in 2003.

Seventy-nine people were arrested for liquor law violations in 2004, and there were 43 arrests for the same crime in 2003.

Twenty people were arrested for drug law violations in 2003, and 32 arrests were made for that crime in 2004.

In 2003, one person was arrested on campus for possessing weapons. Eight people were arrested in 2004 for carrying weapons.

UNM Police weapons policy states that no student, employee or visitor to campus can carry a weapon while on the premises. That includes firearms, ammunition, bombs and other dangerous weapons.

Daniels said the numbers went up because his officers have been cracking down on those crimes.

"The crime rate isn't really going up," he said. "We've been targeting more DWI's and that's included in the liquor law violation statistic."

A pet peeve of Daniel's is people speeding on campus, he said.

"Keep your speed down," he said. "It's a big community and there are a lot of people walking around."

Branch said a lot of drivers aren't cautious enough.

"I've seen people just go when someone is crossing," he said. "Albuquerque in general is still getting used to pedestrians because it's more car oriented."

Daniels said a speeding car on campus hit one cyclist so far this semester.

"We don't want any of that," he said. "We want to be safe all the way around."