The Quad

Issue date: 9/11/06 Section: News

In an apparent crime wave, WCU students have been the targets of six attacks since July 31, leaving students in fear of victimization and police on alert.

The six attacks, five of which occurred off campus, all targeted WCU students at night, in areas on and around campus with little or no lighting.

On the evening of Monday, July 31, a report was received indicating that two students were robbed at gunpoint as they walked one block north of campus in the 50 block of Price Street. The students were not injured and a description of the assailants was limited to "two black males."

Two nights later, around 10:00 p.m., the West Chester Borough Police Department received a report of a carjacking in the 600 block of Mechanics Alley, located between Walnut and Matlack Streets. The carjacking reportedly took place at gunpoint, and the actor was again described only as a black male.

At 1:45 a.m., in the early morning hours of August 16, West Chester Borough Police received a report of a robbery, which had allegedly taken place at knifepoint. The robbery took place in the area of South Church and Union Streets. The perpetrators were described only by their race, said to be "caucasian males."

Between Aug. 29 and Sept. 3, three incidents of assault were reported to police. The first, behind the Sharpless Street parking structure; the second, on campus, behind the Hollinger Field House and the third, more than nine blocks off campus in the area of West Chestnut and North New Streets, all affected students of the University.

The incidents are not believed to be related. "I don't have any reason to believe that the same individuals have committed the acts," says Chief Michael Bicking of the West Chester University Campus Police Department. "It's always been at the cloak of darkness, with the element of surprise, so very little description can be [attained] from the victims."

The Department of Public Safety released campus safety alerts for each of the six incidents. Alerts are to be posted inside and outside of every residential building on campus, as well as more frequented non-residential buildings such as Sykes Student Union and Main Hall. The DPS claims that it is being more liberal when releasing safety alerts this semester and attributes the level of heightened safety to increased knowledge of the recent attacks.

At the bottom of each safety alert, the department offers tips for anyone who goes out at night: avoid walking alone, be aware of your surroundings, let someone know your plans and report all crimes and suspicious activities. They remind students that safety is everybody's responsibility.

Continued...

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