The Daily Northwestern

When Sheila Goyal needed a study break Thursday afternoon, crooks and criminals were the last thing on her mind.

So when Goyal, a Weinberg sophomore, returned to her table at University Library to find her books and backpack right where she had left them, she wasn’t surprised. She said she “usually feels fine,” leaving her cell phone and wallet in her unattended backpack.

“If I was going to a school in a bad area, I’d be afraid to leave anything out,” she said. “But it’s Evanston.”

Based on statistics released Thursday by University Police, Goyal has reason to feel secure: On-campus theft dropped almost 23 percent between 2001 and 2003, according to the UP report “Campus Safety: A Shared Responsibility.” But, with non-forcible burglary on the rise and many other crimes remaining steady, UP warned students like Goyal not to let down their guard.

“I think our officers have really tried to get out in the community and talk — whether to students, faculty or staff — about the type of crimes that occur here, which are mostly crimes of opportunity,” such as theft and burglary, said Asst. Chief Daniel McAleer of UP.

There were 330 on-campus thefts in 2001, compared with 255 in 2003, the report said. The total number of crimes against property — including theft, criminal damage and burglary — dropped by more than 100 in that time period.

But the annual number of non-forcible burglaries — thefts of laptops from unlocked dorm rooms — more than doubled between 2001 and 2003, from 23 to 47.

McAleer encouraged students to lock their dorm room doors when they leave “for any period of time.”

Many students, however, said they simply don’t lock their doors. Others don’t see the importance.

“I lock it, but there’s really no reason to,” said Weinberg senior Brian Witkowski. “I’ve never heard of anything being stolen in a dorm.”

When it comes to campus crime, Witkowski said he is more concerned about his safety than his laptop’s.

“Sometimes walking along Sheridan Road, I wonder if someone’s going to jump out of the bushes,” he said.

The annual number of on-campus simple batteries nearly doubled between 2001 and 2003, from 17 to 32, the report said.

There were 62 simple batteries in the area bounded by Green Bay Road, Church Street, Eastwood Avenue and Isabella Street in 2003, according to data provided by EPD.

The UP report does not count several attacks on students that occurred during Spring Quarter last year.

McAleer said the increase in on-campus battery does “not necessarily” indicate growing on-campus danger, since the incidents often are small fights between students. Battery has not been on the rise in the rest of the city, he said.

“When you look down below at the areas near campus, simple battery is holding pretty steady in the city of Evanston,” he said. “But it’s still an issue.”

For some, though, it is a growing concern.

“Before last year, it was never really an issue,” Witkowski said. “But last year, it was talked about a lot. My parents were worried, and a lot of people that don’t go to Northwestern heard about it. It’s kind of a black mark.”

McAleer said students should always be careful, especially when walking in off-campus areas.

But, he said, the community needs to “give the officers credit” for the job they do in apprehending offenders.

Reach Marissa Conrad at [email protected] .