Crime up in university victim zones & elsewhere

The Toledo Blade is reporting that Bowling Green State university campus police reported a nearly 12 percent increase in major crimes such as burglary, assault, and larceny last year. Chief James Wiegand told the Blade that stepped-up enforcement of liquor and drug laws accounted for the roughly 150% increase in drug and liquor arrests.

Despite the high crime rates on campuses, Ohio law denies students their constitutional right to bear arms for self-defense while on campus, and mandates that CHL-holders leave their firearms in their parked cars when entering a college campus.

And on that note, BG campus police indicate the number of motor vehicle thefts increased from four to seven.

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The Blade reports that the University of Toledo has also experienced increased thefts, with overall crime staying about level.

The Ohio State University's newspaper, The Lantern, is reporting that auto thefts in the off-campus University District doubled in the month of January, according to the University Area Crime Stoppers board. According to the report, thefts in the 4th precinct increased to 48 in January, up from an average of about 20. And according to the University Police Division Web site, there were also five auto thefts on campus last month. That is a significant increase from the average of one theft a month, Lt. Dennis Hollern told The Lantern.

From the story:

Steve Sterrett, secretary of the University Area Crime Stoppers board, said that Columbus police have not found any pattern in the make of the stolen cars.

In general, he said, the vehicles stolen were left unlocked, had their keys still in them, or contained valuables like laptop computers left in plain sight.

"If you make it a little bit harder (by locking doors and hiding valuables), the thief is maybe going to go where it's going to be easier," Sterrett said.

Not only does Ohio law deny students their right to bear arms for self-defense, it also includes a ridiculous "plain sight" provision which defies common sense and the advice of law enforcement officials, requiring CHL-holders to leave their firearms in a locked container that is in "plain sight" in the vehicle while unattended, if their vehicle does not have a locking glove box.

Crime just isn't up on these college campuses. In Richland County, the Mansfield News Journal is reporting that violent crimes increased 67 percent in Richland County in 2004. Robberies were the prime reason for the jump. There were 21 robberies committed in 2004, a 200-percent increase over the seven in 2003.

From the story:

Richland County sheriff's Capt. Larry Faith attributed the increase to drugs and the poor economy.

"All crime is centered around the drug world," he said. "We know there's an increase in the crack cocaine usage and definitely in the heroin usage. These people need to support their habits and are going to get it some way."

Faith said the release of convicts from prison is another factor.

"You can't keep them in forever," he said. "I don't think prison rehabilitates any of these people. In fact, I think it educates some of them."

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Victim zone double-whammy: Disarmed CHL-holder endures robbery & assault