Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 21, 1981)
COP team lowers number of burglaries, sex crimes A Eugene police officer talks candidly about crime and preven tion. Burglaries, bike thefts and rape are common crimes around the University area, and students often let themselves become easy victims. By STEVE KNIGHT OfttwEmaraM Living around the University can seem deceptively safe On the surface, it might appear that students lead a life sans souci. One thinks of the parties, hacky sack sessions between classes and Socratic debates on herbicide-free grass But within this tranquil setting lurks an inevi table plethora of criminals Eugene police officer Skip Stokes says bur glary and bike theft are so prevalent on and around the campus that a special police unit — the Community Officer Patrol — was formed two years ago to combat the problem But the COP unit isn't a SWAT team waiting for the bad guys and then swooping down, TV style Stokes says crime prevention is COP'S major function. ‘There's a misconception that burglaries happen only to the rich guy, but the opposite is true. ’ "We try to prevent crime by educating students on the many ways to avoid being crime victims," he says Stokes explains that he and three other "COPs." who are all permanently assigned to the University beat, try to contain crime by periodically inspecting dorm and home security systems and by giving crime prevention lectures on campus The COP unit also provides an en graver for students who want to mark personal belongings Stokes blames the high frequency of burg laries in this area on the "high-density, mobile population” living in the University neighborhood “When you have a flood of pedestrian traffic in an area where people don't know their neigh bors, you're going to find a high crime rate.” But Stokes says many burglaries are com mitted by "someone living very close and knows the victim " Still, others are victimized because they believe only the well-to-do are burglarized, he says "There's a misconception that burglaries happen only to the rich guy, but the opposite is true It's the lower and middle socio-economic class that get robbed, and usually because they’re unable to pay to secure their homes,” he says. Stokes says students can avoid being bur glary victims by shopping around for secure apartments with deadbolt locks and an outside area with plenty of visibility and lighting People also should educate themselves to the specific crimes being committed in their neighborhoods and use "common sense preven tive measures" to keep from being victimized, he says Along with burglaries and bike thefts, rape is another crime that occurs frequently in the University area, Stokes says He terms a large percentage of sex offenses near campus as ’ acquaintance’’ or "blind date” rapes where the victim knows the rapist “Usually the rapist is someone a victim has met in a bar," he says Stokes says women students can avoid being potential rape victims by traveling in groups and going out to very public places Most of the other rapes in this area happen in the victim s home — and usually in an unsecure home — and not out on the bike paths and dark alleys where most people assume rapes occur, he says How has the COP team’s preventive crime program affected these serious offenses? "Incredibly well,” Stokes says While serious A large percentage of sex offenses near campus are ‘acquaintance’ or ‘blind date’ rapes where the victim knows the rapist. crimes have risen or remained steady in other parts of the city, the University area has seen a sharp reduction: a 35 percent decrease in re sidential burglaries and a 74 percent decrease in sex offenses Aside from "preventive" crime fighting, Stokes says COP members also act as witnesses at mock law school trails, provide crime informa tion to students and investigate parking com plaints and loud parties The COP phone number is 687-2677. ikBladfl CLOTHES FOR MEN Welcome back students & staff Get ready for fall with our V-Neck & Crew Neck sweaters in lightweight wool blends or easy care acrylic. Available in solid colors & soft patterns. Bring this ad in and receive $7.50 OFF the regular price of any sweater in our stock. Blade CLOTHES FOR MEN 263 Valley River Center 343-0227 349°° Nikon FE Automatic 35mm camera with 1.8 Nikkor with 1.4 Nikkor 399.00 with 1.8 series E 326.00 ' ) limited to stock on hand 149 Vivitar 80-200mm F4.5 Zoom for Canon, Nikon, Minolta, Olympus, Pentax, and other 35mm SLR cameras. 200mm 80 mm Kodak MAILER for color^ slides PREPAID PROCESSING 20-exposure KODAK EKTACHROME sues 110, 12#, 133 for processing CAT 155 1365 PK20 limit 10 per customer PK 20 MAILER PK 36 mailer $3.59 PK 59 movie mailer CAMPUS STORE SPRINGFIELD STORE 849 E. 13th 651 W. Centennial Halfway between duffy's and the Bookstore
