Captain Solorzano

After I read some of the statistics from the Clery Report, I wanted to ask the police captain on campus what he thought of the information. When I asked him why he thought sexual assaults were so much higher in 2008 than in 2007, he attributed it to the community and the police department encouraging victims to report the crimes. " An important message we advocated was reporting the crime immediately. My thoughts are that this education and awareness continued its path to the following year and hence more survivors had the courage to report the crimes to the police." I also asked him what his thoughts were on the rise of property crime between 2007 and 2008. He attributed at least some of the rise to the rapidly declining economy and housing market in 2008. "The economic times we're in do not help the big picture either." I also asked him some of the measures the police can take in order to lower the crime rate on campus. He said that the new cameras have made it possible to monitor certain target crime areas and help the police department use technology to its benefit. 

*Image courtesy of google images.

Crime Statistics

The statistics in presented in the 2008 showed a staggering difference in some of the numbers compared to the statistics released in 2007. In 2008, burglary and property crime on campus were much higher than in 2007, however, there were no reported rapes or sexual assaults. In 2007, there were four sexual assaults, one forcible rape and three aggravated assaults. In 2008, there were 27 burglaries and 27 motor vehicle thefts and in 2008, there were only 15 burglaries and two robberies. The reports show all reported crimes on campus for the year and you can access the reports here. 

2008 Annual Clery Report

At the beginning of November, the campus police department released the annual Cleary Report. The Cleary Report is a mandated list of statistics known as the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. You can access a printed copy of these statistics 24 hours a day at the University Police main station located on the south end of parking lot 11. The stats can also be accessed online at http://daf.csulb.edu/offices/ppfm/police.

Homecoming 5K run/walk 2009

On Sunday November 8, as part of the 2009 homecoming festivities, there will be a 5k run/walk all through the campus! The run will begin at 9 am. If you plan on participating or driving in any of the areas around campus, you should be prepared for traffic delays and closures. Both 7th Street entrances at both East and West Campus Drives will be closed along with the Bellflower entrance at Beach Drive. For more information on how to sign up or for information about exactly where the run/walk will take place, you can visit http://www.pyramidrun.com/!!!!!!


*image courtesy of csulb.edu

Do CSULB students have a drinking problem?

Last week, the campus police department updated its website and as I was looking around it, I discovered an interesting statistic. I came across a box that compared the number of liquor violations between the years 2006-2008. In 2006, there were 12 reported violations. This number seems relatively normal, or maybe even low. However in 2007, the number skyrocketed to 220 and in 2008 reached its peak thus far at 322! This is an astonishing jump in the numbers. And all these violations all occurred prior to the installation of the new cameras all over campus. I can't even imagine what the numbers are going to be for next years statistics. This drinking problem on campus could potentially become very serious if it is not closely monitored and by the looks of it, campus police seems to be doing a better job at cracking down on the perpetrators. 

*image courtesy of google images.

Preparing for the BIG ONE?

On Monday, the campus police department sent an email to all students asking them to participate in "The Great Shakeout" that is taking place all around California. All Californians are being encouraged to this massive earthquake drill. The event is supposed to take place on Thursday October 15 at 10:15 am. Participants are being told to "drop, cover and hold on" according to shakeout.org. All schools and companies are strongly encouraged to participate or make a more extensive drill. CSULB teachers, staff and students are all being asked to participate in this voluntary effort to better help us prepare for earthquakes.  This great shakeout drill is now going to take place annually on the third Thursday in October all over California!! 

*Image courtesy of google images

Shakeout Homepage

Parents Beware!

In the last few days, campus police have been notified of a fund raising scam directed at parents. Some one or a group is calling parents and claiming that they are from the "CSULB Science Department" and are looking for donations for the new science building. There is no such fund raiser going on right now. Police said that the number appears as a blocked or private number on caller id's all calls from campus will come up with (562) 985-4111, the university's main number. So, students help your parents avoid a scam and pass this information onto them!!!!!!

Copy of Email Sent to all students.:

CSULB - Fund Raising Scam Alert

Friday, October 2, 2009 11:49 AM

From:

"es-records@csulb.edu"

Add sender to Contacts

To:

jessica_carlson16@yahoo.com

Attention CSULB Students,

Please be aware of a fund raising scam targeting parents of CSULB students. University Police has received reports of telephone calls to parents from the "CSULB Science Department" soliciting credit card donations for the new science building. All reports indicate the caller has "blocked" or "private" caller ID.

The University is not currently conducting a telephone fund raising campaign for the new science building, and all calls from campus will display the caller ID of (562) 985-4111 (The University main number). Please inform your parents of this situation. If there is doubt about the legitimacy any fund raising call, we recommend you request a call back number so you may call them back to make a donation. If the call back number is outside the 562-985-XXXX range, then the call is likely a scam.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact University Police at (562) 985-4101.

***Please do not respond to this email as it is sent from an unmonitored account.***

Campus Police Website

Sexual Assault on Campus

On Friday afternoon, a 63 year old student was assaulted in the women's restroom near the Liberal Arts Buildings according to the 49er. Her attacker had been following her since she got on a bus in Westminster. He even followed her when she switched busses. After she arrived on campus, she felt uncomfortable and walked into the bathroom. He followed her and proceeded to kiss her on the neck and cheek, and fondled her breasts. The woman screamed and the attacker fled the bathroom. Police were able to catch the suspect with the help of witnesses and the cameras that were installed in the beginning of the year. The attacker is being held in jail with bail set at $50,000.

Photo courtesy of Google Image Search

Do you ever feel like you are being watched on campus?

Have you ever gotten the feeling that you are being watched on campus? Well, if you have, your instinct is right. There are thirty seven cameras located all over our campus. In January, the campus police department decided to upgrade their systems to wireless making it easier for them to have eyes all over the place. They even have cameras in parking lots located off campus to monitor student activity in those locations. Dispatchers monitor the feeds from all the cameras and communicate with the police on patrol in real time. Campus police own and control the whole wireless network, keeping all the students on campus in line.



Campus Police

Email Fraud on Campus

An email scam telling victims that a person paid a lot of money for them to be on someone's hit list is being sent around the world and has reached CSULB.

The person or group that has started this wants to gain access to the victim's personal information such as bank account information and social security numbers. Everyone should be advised to not share any personal information with a person if they did not initiate contact.

If you think you received this email or one like it, do no hesitate to call and inform campus police.