The University Area Safety Committee held its monthly board meeting Wednesday at the Student Housing Legal Clinic where members discussed local crime issues and on- and off-campus safety. The committee's goals are to reduce crime rates in the university area and educate students on safety, said committee member Willie Young of Off-Campus Student Services.
The committee is comprised of representatives from the Columbus Division of Police, University Police, Off-Campus Student Services and the Wilce Student Health Center, who work to provide safety services for the university community, Young said. Students and landlords also serve on the committee.
"We deal with everyone and everything in the university district," Young said. "We work together to solve outstanding crimes and prevent new crime."
One way the university has done this is through a university version of Central Ohio Crime Stoppers. The Web-based information center contains crime reports and hotlines to call with tips. The Columbus Division of Police works with the university on the Crime Stoppers program, said Sgt. Ron Kemmerling of the Columbus Division of Police. Administrators are working to expand the program, he said.
Off-Campus Student Services has published an off-campus resource guide, Young said. Copies of the resource guide can be obtained at the Off-Campus Student Services office at 15 E. 15th Ave. At the office, students can also pick up free window alarms that sound when triggered to warn of an intruder. Burglary is the most common crime that occurs off campus, Kemmerling said.
He said he has seen the burglary trend first-hand, especially when students leave for break. He suggests taking all valuables when leaving for an extended period.
Kemmerling said taking a few precautionary steps could prevent such crimes.
"Sometimes it's as simple as locking a door or a window," he said. "If you live with roommates, make sure everyone locks the door after leaving."
Sophomore Stephanie Ferenc said she has never felt concerned with her safety while living in the house she shares with her sisters off-campus. "Our doors and windows are always locked, even when we're all home," Ferenc said.
If a student's house is burglarized, Kemmerling urges the resident to call the police immediately.
"Even if nothing valuable was taken, we can still dust for prints, which could lead us to the burglar of 50 other houses that week," he said. "Often times a spike in crime is the result of a few criminals."
For more tips on crime prevention, visit http://www.offcampus.osu.edu/housing_safety.asp.
Michelle Sullivan can be reached at sullivan.423@osu.edu.
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