Thursday, May 7, 2009
Several high-profile court cases in recent months have involved students. Former student Cem Basoflas, from Istanbul, Turkey, was prosecuted for animal cruelty in February. In combination with several sexual assaults, consistent cases of criminal damage and three student deaths, many students have noticed a perceived spike in crime since January and compared with last spring semester.
But Lawrence police and other officials say it’s too early to tell, because crime statistics for this year have not yet been compiled. Still, the popular perception may not be true, said Sgt. Bill Cory, Lawrence police public information officer.
“The numbers may show an increase or even a decrease in crime, we don’t know yet,” Cory said, “but right off the bat, nothing jumps out at me.”
Jennifer McCollum, a medical investigator at the Douglas County coroner’s office, said her office had not experienced a spike in crimes but that students might perceive an increase.
“It doesn’t seem out of the ordinary to us, but it may to students because it’s all happening so quickly and all around the University,” McCollum said.
Adam Paulitsch, St. Louis graduate student, knows what it’s like to be the victim of a crime.
Paulitsch woke up to a “shocking” sight Saturday morning — someone had moved his car, which had been parked outside his apartment in the 900 block of Alabama Street, down the street, stolen his stereo system from within the car and slashed the car’s tires.
Paulitsch described seeing his car as surprising at first, but he said that the more he thought about it, the less he was surprised — especially with his apartment’s location near several student-oriented bars.
“I always keep an eye on the drunk people who walk by to see if they do anything to my car,” Paulitsch said. “With all the crime this semester, I’ve realized something was bound the happen sometime.”
As the semester winds down next week, Cory said students such as Paulitsch could take precautions to help protect themselves from becoming more victims of Lawrence crime. Cory said a major part of preventing victimization was to be aware of the surroundings at all times and to keep from becoming too intoxicated to control a situation.
Cory said Lawrence police weren’t bracing themselves for a spike in crime but were planning to handle any crimes that did occur over Stop Day and finals week.
“We know there are certain times of the year that there will be a lot of gatherings, a lot of people out and about — we will be out in force to enforce the laws,” he said.
— — Edited by Melissa Johnson
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