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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 18, 1981)
Prevention programs help cut crime rates in University area By RICHARD WAGONER Of the Emerald An intensive crime prevention program focusing on rape and residential burglary in the West University area seems to be paying off. Rape, attempted rape and sodomy in the West University area dropped 64 percent in 1980 from the previous year, according to statistics released this week by the Eugene Police Department. Residential burglary decreased 26 percent during the same time period. “In crime prevention, West University is one of the most responsive areas,” says Eugene police officer Skip Stokes, a member of the Community Officer Patrol Team. “In the crimes they targeted — rape and residential burglaries — the rate was much lower than the city average." City-wide statistics indicate that reported rapes decreased last year 29 percent, while re sidential burglaries dropped 1 percent. Three rapes were reported in the West University area during 1980, compared to eight in 1979. One attempted rape and one sodomy was reported in 1980, compared with two at tempted rapes and four sodomy cases the year before. Police received 98 residential burglary reports in 1980, a decrease of 36. The West University neigh borhood group, in conjunction with the Eugene Police COP Team, has been offering rape prevention workshops and burglary prevention programs for the past year. Stokes says he’d like to believe West University crime rates have dropped because of stepped-up crime prevention efforts, but he admits it’s too early too tell. “We have some very dramatic decreases over last year,’’ Stokes says. “But it would be Homemade Ice Cream Frozen Yogurt Old Fashioned Fountain Treats Coffee Prince Puckler’s Parlour 13th & Hilyard Open til 11:00 nightly 12:30 Fri. & Sat. Also located in the Atrium, downtown c, presumptuous to say it's all because of the COP Team. We like to look at a five-year trend. You can’t just look at one year.” But Stokes says evidence does suggest crime prevention programs are working. Neigh borhoods where crime preven tion techniques were stressed showed reduced reports for many kinds of crime. Shoplifting reports also re flected stepped-up police ef forts, Stokes says. Some 141 shoplifting cases were reported in 1980, compared to 85 in 1979. The number of shoplifters hasn't really changed, Stokes says, but increased efforts by police and merchants has re sulted in more shoplifters being caught and prosecuted. Other crimes showing decreases include aggravated assault, simple assault, robbery and auto theft. Bike theft was up again, with 254 thefts reported, compared to 219 in 1979. Commercial burglaries in creased 29 percent, with 98 reported in 1980. Campus crime statistics also showed decreases in assault and robbery, but burglary, rape and bicycle theft was up from a year earlier. One rape and one attempted rape was reported on campus during 1980. No rapes or at tempted rapes were reported in 1979. Residential burglary on campus increased three-fold, and bike theft reports went from 142 in 1979 to 203 in 1980. Other reported thefts on campus — not counting bicycles — increased from 181 to 207. Stokes says he hopes more neighborhood groups and in dividuals will take advantage of the crime prevention resources offered by Eugene police to continuecrime reduction. "The resource is here. It’s just a matter of motivating the peo ple to utilize it. "The only program that will significantly reduce crime will take cooperation of citizens to educate themselves about crime, learn their vulnerability and then do something about it. It’s just neighbors helping neighbors.” pKONA _ R t«An \r fn o 4- Ca. CAFE^I Breakfast Served 7:30-11:30 Monday thru Friday Two Eggs, Hashbrowns and Toast .1.75 Ham and Eggs, Hashbrowns and Toast .2.60 Diced Ham and Eggs, Hashbrowns and Toast .2.00 Huevos Rancheros .2.25 ...plus a selection of omelets and tropical juices. Homemade coffeecakes and pastries are baked fresh daily in our kitchen. SUPER-FAST SERVICE FOR PEOPLE ON THE GO! Lunch and dinner served daily also. 345-0214 “On 13th between the Bookstore and Duffy’s.” A9i .,p<jn®sL 'Nerlne> ^^LDILEI —gass SiS-X^Tj,■„'“»•< ■ o^,345-9815 Sxnm _VOUK_ CHOICE. lilf under row aasrA;rs. InsiaiT^r:-= ” All hardware included. ° or S^ff^SSgU^ 164 v7T,h ~~~~ _^can Express S.b,^' w. 7th at 7th A r*. ---- rte B,anche °Pen Mon -Fn o ? Charr>eiton n~ 8-5:30 Sat. 8 s Dovv"t°Wn S2£*Q* rr Eugene 843-2501 Office Supply Specials School and Six-pocket Spiral notebook, 120 sheets req. $2.39 Now $1.49 college rule Now 69c Filler paper 100 count reg 98c Erase paper 100-sheet pack 9 lb. reg. $1.49 Now 16 lb. reg. $1.69 Now $ 20 lb. reg. $1.89 Now S Heavy-duty clipboard, 9x12 size reg. $2.59 Now $1 Parker Ball Jotter pens U of O ring binders Sheaffer Kaleidoscope pens reg. $3.98 Now $ Sale ends Saturday, February 21 13th & Kincaid Mon-Fri 8:15-5:30 Sat 10:00-2:00 Textbooks 686-3520 • General Books 686-3510 • Supplies 686-4331 Paoe 5 Section A
