By Ray Dillon

More than 90 reported incidents of hit and runs, thefts and vandalism in more than 75 designated parking areas on the Belknap campus of the University of Louisville were reported last year, according to U of L Department of Public Safety crime logs.

Major Kenneth E. Brown, Assistant Chief of Police at DPS, said that while the number might appear alarming, “a great number of incidents in the garages and parking areas are the result of carelessness, not criminal activity.”

According to Brown, DPS numbers actually show that thefts from autos, one of the more serious incidents, are down from recent years.

In the second half of 2005, there were 21 thefts over $300 from automobiles parked on campus. That number fell to four in the same time period in 2006. Thefts under $300 from automobiles fell from 33 in the second half of 2005, to seven in the second half of 2006.

Last month, DPS encountered 11 incidents in parking areas; two of which were thefts over $300, two under $300, and one robbery.

Melanie Rowand-White, a first year Ph.D. student in rhetoric and composition, only takes night courses and said she generally feels safe when it comes time to walk to her car after class.

“There’s always others around, and it’s pretty well lit. I guess [campus police officers] are around, but I’ve honestly never noticed them. I’d probably be more alarmed if I did notice them,” Rowand-White said.

Brown said that recent trend is due in part to increased vigilance on the parts of staff and students.

“People are walking in groups at night, not leaving valuables in plain sight in vehicles, or leaving car doors unlocked,” he said.

Brown also said that ongoing collaboration with the Louisville Metro Police Department’s Fourth Division, which covers U of L and surrounding city areas, has helped DPS ability to be proactive.

“For instance, LMPD’s crime stats have shown a spike in auto thefts around Old Louisville. We’ve increased our patrols to try and cover as much of that area as possible. We’re constantly evaluating and adjusting in conjunction with [LMPD] to give better overall security,” said Brown.

Brown said he feels the increased presence on campus of DPS’s 23 patrol officers and joint LMPD and DPS patrols has also been effective.

“We have officers in booths for large parking areas, as well as others on bikes, mopeds, and soon the new Segues. We’re very visible. People see more and more of us. They know we’re here,” said Brown.

“It depends on where I park,” said Sonya Lawson Parrish, a second year Graduate student in English, “If I park in the Floyd garage I feel safer than if I park behind the engineering school.”

But while increased visibility can give the appearance of security, Brown feels DPS’s strength lies in their use of available resources.

Currently, there are 123 cameras on campus. Some are in buildings, parking areas, near dormitories, and others are strategically placed in areas potentially ideal for criminal activity.

“We’re always evaluating our camera security based on the growth of the university. As the university gets bigger, you look to possibly add more cameras. You want to be careful not to flood the campus with cameras and have one everywhere you turn,” said Brown.

The 74 emergency telephone boxes around campus and evening escort service always keep DPS accessible and nearby, added Brown.

DPS immediately posts security bulletins and crime alerts on U of L Web sites when necessary.

An updated crime log is available at http://louisville.edu/admin/dps/. To report campus crime, emergencies, or tips, or to request escort service, call 852-6111.