Students received their first scare of the summer last week when The University of Memphis issued a campus-wide safety alert after two robberies and one attempted robbery were reported in the campus area.
“Anytime someone is targeting students for armed robberies it is a little unnerving,” said business major David Johnson. “No one knows when it is going to happen to you,”
Two robberies were reported in the 3600 block of Midland and the 3700 block of Spottswood, according to the e-mail issued by U of M public safety director Bruce Harber. On each occasion the suspect was armed with a handgun and demanded the backpack of walking students.
While the incidents may have taken place off campus, there is still a lot of concern for U of M students, Johnson said.
“Memphis students live in those areas and a lot of times they walk to class,” he said.
Even though The University experiences several safety alerts every year, The U of M remains one of the safest public schools in Tennessee, according to a mandatory safety report issued in 2003.
In that report, out of the 11 large universities in Tennessee, The University of Memphis had the lowest number of total offenses per thousand in campus population.
Out of those schools, The U of M had the lowest number of employed officers. The achievements of The U of M police force in preventing crime should not go unnoticed, Harber said.
“The University of Memphis and its police department will continue to strive to provide the most efficient and effective campus police services available,” Harber said.
The U of M employs 30 peace officers, and each is put through the training of a basic police academy and annual in-service training.
For the 2003 school year, 54 burglaries and 35 motor vehicle thefts were reported. Both categories were down from the previous year of 2002.
While there have been no repeat robbery attempts since the alert last week, taking a few precautions is always a good idea, Harber said.
Putting valuable items away in your car and locking your doors at all times can significantly help in avoiding break ins. Also walking in a group and avoiding using cell phones while walking to class can also help.
“I am always on my cell phone,” said nursing major Amber Kelly. “I guess I should really pay more attention to people walking around me though.”
Although no one has been arrested for the robberies, the attempts are not going to stop anyone from getting their education, said Johnson.
“That kind of stuff just happens and you have to deal with it,” Johnson said. “Nothing is going to stop me from getting my degree.”
