Notre Dame Security/Police (NDSP) released the University's most recent campus crime report last Thursday, detailing an increase in burglary and larceny on campus since 2002.
NDSP officials encouraged the University community in an e-mail to look through the collection of statistics detailing criminal activity, including all violations that occurred on-campus from 2002-2004.
The report presents data from each of the years in the areas of burglary, larceny, sex offenses, liquor law arrests and drug law arrests, as well as several other types of crime, associate director of NDSP Philip Johnson said.
There is consistency in most of the categories from year to year, but the numbers for burglary and larceny saw the greatest increase.
According to the NDSP crime statistics, 43 reports of burglary were recorded in 2002, 49 in 2003 and 62 in 2004. Larceny rose from 436 in 2002 to 459 in 2004.
Johnson said a large portion of the reported incidents of on-campus theft and burglary are preventable. Of the 62 burglaries that occurred in 2004, 38 occurred in residential buildings. Of these 38, only four were the result of forcible entry. Thirty-four of these burglaries happened because dorm rooms were left unlocked, Johnson said.
Notre Dame has a relatively low crime rate when compared to many other universities, but the University must still work hard to address the present crime on campus by taking smart preventative action, Johnson said.
In response to the burglary and larceny statistics, Johnson said the University security patrols have grown in numbers and that some arrests have been made already regarding on-campus burglary.
Johnson also said security is working closely with residence halls to ensure continued safety in the dorm environment.
One of the best defenses the Notre Dame community can have against crime on campus is to be informed and to take precautionary action, Johnson said. The NDSP Web site keeps a crime blotter, a daily-updated post on campus crime news.
Johnson said the campus e-mails and telephone messages notifying students of the latest criminal activity are important and deserve attention.
Johnson encouraged faculty, staff and students to be mindful of their belongings. He said students should always lock their bikes - bike theft is a large contributor to the increased larceny numbers. Johnson said students should keep their dorm rooms locked during the night and while they are out. Being alert for any suspicious activity is imperative, as well.
Johnson urged any member of the University community to promptly report any crime to NDSP.
"We as a community must work together," he said.
