Students reporting less crime on campus

Though crime on campus has been decreasing since June, theft of personal property continues to be a problem, according to reports from the head of security services at Concordia University.
Personal theft has been the most reported incident on campus since June.
Between June 1 and Aug. 31, theft made up 21 per cent of the 124 incidents reported. During the month of September, it made up 28 per cent of the 93 incidents reported.
There has, however, been a decrease in overall reported incidents, which can include first aid responses, building evacuations, tripped alarms, and accusations of harassment, the documents indicated. Over the summer, the decrease was 10.5 per cent; between Sept. 1 and Sept. 30, there was a decrease of nine per cent.
The downward trend in incidents reported to security on campus stretches back a few years, according to reports filed to the university.
The steady decrease between 2004 and 2008 academic years has resulted in a 31 per cent drop in the overall number of reports filed with security.
Stolen items reported usually include wallets, bags, and laptops left unattended in classrooms, residence rooms, and the library, according to Chris Mota, Concordia’s spokesperson.
“This is a real problem on campus,” she said. “Security has really been trying to reinforce personal responsibility.”
This isn’t the first year theft has been the highly reported. It was the most reported incident on campus during the 2008-2009 academic year, making up one quarter of all incidents, the documents said.
Mota drew attention, however, to the silver lining in theft on campus. “Bicycle theft used to be a big, big problem,” she said. “Now it has virtually disappeared.”
In the coming months, security might expect a peak in first aid8212;the ailment that accounted for 20 per cent of all reports in the 2008-2009 academic year.
Though there were peaks and valleys in the number of first aid responses being filed each month last year, there was a “definite peak” during exam times, Mota said.
“Students are stressed,” she said. “And unfortunately, people tend to forget things like nutrition and rest when they’re in a time of stress. Eventually, when they get woozy and fall, security will have to be called in.”

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