Education, athletics, parties … crime?
Of the many reputations College Park and the university have been associated with in recent years, one distinction that often comes up is the area’s attraction for criminals. But despite an increase in robberies on the campus over the past three years, data of reported crime on the campus shows that things are no more dangerous than they were 10 years ago and that while recent incidents have shown the city is still dangerous, crime throughout the county is falling.
“Whether the problem is actual or perceived, it’s a significant problem,” Student Government Association President Emma Simson said. “When I’ve had discussions with people from other schools, one of the things that often comes up is crime in the area.”
From January 2003 through December 2005, a total of 39 robberies were reported to the University Police, 26 more than the three years prior. In 2005, a 10-year high of 18 robberies were reported, and 2006 is on pace to at least meet that number with 11 already this year.
But beyond the robberies, the campus statistics show relatively no sweeping change in aggravated assault and that the number of rapes has actually gone down. Although exact statistics for the city were not immediately available, Prince George’s County Police Chief Melvin High reported in July that there was a major drop in violent crimes over the past year for the entire county.
Despite the good news, students don’t feel much safer when they receive a crime report from University Police describing the latest assault on Knox Road or when they hear the Taco Bell on Route 1 has been robbed for the fifth time in just over a year. In 2002, university student Brandon Malstrom was stabbed and killed outside a house party on Dickinson Avenue. One student was shot in the buttocks while walking by the South Campus Commons in 2005.
“Crime is much less on campus than it is off campus”, University Police spokeswoman Maj. Cathy Atwell said. “It’s a very open university, and we’re very much part of the new community.”
Some county officials have tied the recent crime in Prince George’s County to the shift of demographics in Washington. As more and more people move from Washington to Prince George’s, the theory is many of the criminals have crossed the border as well. Before the positive reports by Chief High this year, College Park had reached a five-year high last year in both robberies and auto thefts.
“The last two years have had a tremendous strike in robberies, and it is the robberies that students should be most cautious of,” Atwell said, imploring students to use the safety resources provided for them on the campus such as Night Ride, a shuttle service that transports students around after the sun has gone down. She also recommended that students walk in groups and that they use the university escort service, which walks people home at night.
“You have to be personally responsible for your safety,” said Kim Lugo, the president assistant of the College Park Neighborhood Watch. “That includes not walking the streets at 3 in the morning with a bunch of money.”
Simson stressed the importance of knowing how to get home at night. She said her initiatives this year include raising awareness for campus safety and lobbying for more lights and cameras.
Contact reporter Owen Praskievicz at praskieviczdbk@gmail.com.
