University of Memphis students can participate in National SelfDefense Awareness Month by helping keep the campus one of thesafest in the state, U of M Police Services officials said.
The U of M is rated the second safest campus when compared toother Tennessee institutions with enrollments of 5,000 or more,according to University Police Services.
"Nationally, 42 to 44 people out of 1,000 will be a victim ofany type of crime," said Derek Myers, U of M public safety deputydirector. "Seventeen out of every 1,000 U of M students will bevictims of some type of crime."
The most common campus crimes are thefts from buildings andthefts of and from motor vehicles. Police Services also reports asmall number of on-campus drug offenses and physical assaults.
In 2002, there were 15 reported motor vehicle thefts, fourrobberies and 58 burglaries, according to Police Servicesofficials. In response to the increase of these types of crimes,University Police Services has stepped up crime prevention effortsand surveillance of vulnerable areas.
"Through surveys, we make recommendations (to The University) tohelp prevent thefts," Myers said. "We first used Web cams in thevending machine area and the thefts stopped."
Police Services is also using Web cameras in some U of M parkinglots. Although not every parking lot is monitored by the cameras,officer patrols have increased for all campus lots.
Dannise Hobson, 31, said her car was stolen from a near-emptycampus parking lot eight months ago.
There were two sexual assaults in 2003, according to PoliceServices statistics. Bruce Harber, U of M public safety director,said he attributes the low number of assaults to U of M crimeprevention education efforts.
"One sexual assault is too many," he said. "(Assaults) arecombated through awareness and education, not more patrol."
Every April, Police Services holds a Campus Safety Forum. Theforum informs students, faculty and staff about the most frequentcrimes on campus and educates them about what can be done toprevent crimes.
In addition to supervising possessions, Police Servicesrecommends students stay aware of their surroundings. The campuscommunity is also urged to report suspicious persons to PoliceServices, Myers said.
"If someone doesn't look like they have any purpose being oncampus or spends too much time watching people, be sure to call usbecause that could prevent a crime," he said.
To report an emergency, call U of M Police Services at 678-help.To report a crime or a suspicious person in a non-emergencysituation, call police services at 678-3848.
