PUBLICATIONS Inside Illinois Vol. 21, No. 9, Nov. 1, 2001

Annual crime report: Overall crime down; aggravated assault/battery up

By Sharita Forrest, Assistant Editor
(217) 244-1072; slforres@illinois.edu

Crime declined in all but one category in the UI reporting district during the 2000-2001 academic year, according to the annual crime report released last month.

From Sept. 1, 2000, to Aug. 31, 2001, aggravated assaults and batteries increased 39 percent. There were 113 incidents reported during that period, compared with 81 reported during the same period the previous year.

The number of aggravated assaults and batteries was the second highest in the past six years, exceeded only by the 1995-1996 academic year when 118 such incidents occurred. During the 1996-1997 academic year, 87 aggravated assaults and batteries were reported, and 110 and 112 occurred during the following two academic years, respectively.

During the 2000-2001 academic year, the majority of the aggravated assault/battery victims were male community residents between the ages of 21 and 29. The majority of the crimes occurred on Saturday and Sunday nights between midnight and 6 a.m.

"The connection between alcohol and/or drug use and becoming a victim is a major concern," UI police Capt. Kris Fitzpatrick said.

"During the past academic year, 34 percent of the aggravated assault/battery victims had been using drugs or alcohol as had 52 percent of the sexual assault victims," Fitzpatrick said. "Individuals who over-consume are creating an environment where their health and safety is at risk. Many of these types of crimes might be avoided if individuals drank responsibly."

More than half the referrals to McKinley Health Center for drug and alcohol evaluations come from the police department, according to B. Ilene Harned, a health educator at the center.

During the 2000-2001 academic year, 290 students were referred to the health center for evaluation as a result of overdoses, behavioral problems or other factors, Harned said.

Criminal sexual assaults and robberies during the 2000-2001 academic year were both down slightly from the same period the prior year, from 20 to 18 and 40 to 35, respectively. Public indecency and peeping tom cases decreased by 45 percent, from 29 the previous year to 13.

Burglaries of motor vehicle parts were down substantially as well. Just one such incident was reported during the 2000-2001 academic year compared with nine such cases during the prior academic year. Burglaries from motor vehicles declined 34 percent as well (210 burglaries reported versus 319 the previous year).

The incidence of residential burglaries also declined, to 171 such incidents from 192 during the 1999-2000 academic year.
The UI crime report includes incidents that occurred in an area extending from University Avenue on the north to Windsor Road on the south, Race Street on the east and the railroad tracks just east of Neil Street on the west.

Personal Safety Tips
When walking:

• Use well-lit and busy sidewalks.
• Avoid walking alone or walking near vacant lots, alleys, wooded areas or construction sites.
• Always take the safest route, even if it’s a little longer.
• If you feel you are being followed, cross the street, and head for the nearest well-lit populated area.
• Carry a whistle or personal alarm.
• Never hitchhike.
• Walk facing traffic so that you can see approaching cars.
• Walk in pairs when possible.

When using public transportation:

• Use popular and well-lit stops.
• When you are on the bus, sit near the driver.
• Be aware of who gets off the bus with you. If you feel uncomfortable, walk to a place where there are other people.
  Source: www.dps.uiuc.edu

Visit www.dps.uiuc.edu/crimepreventionpages/personal.htm for more information.