An annual crime report released by ASU Police Thursday marked 2009 as the highest year for aggravated assaults and robberies across the University’s four campuses over a period of three years.
In addition, more than 1,000 larceny thefts and 500 liquor-law arrests were made last year.
The annual report was released in accordance with the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, which requires any post-secondary institution that participates in federal financial aid programs to maintain and disclose campus crime statistics and information.
The act was renamed in 1998 as “The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act” after a 19-year-old Lehigh University student who was raped and murdered in her dorm room in 1986.
Twenty-two aggravated assaults were reported in 2009 across ASU’s campuses, including 20 on the Tempe campus, compared to 16 in 2008 and 18 in 2007, according to the report.
Nine robberies were also reported in 2009, including five on the Tempe campus and three on the Downtown campus, an increase over the six reported robberies in 2008, and five in 2007.
ASU Police spokesman Cmdr. Jim Hardina said robbery statistics can be difficult to discern.
“Those happen at random, you get six a year, four a year, so how do you prevent that? You really can’t,” Hardina said. “You can’t just go out and look for burglars.”
Forty-three fewer liquor law arrests took place in 2009 as compared to 2008. Of the 512 arrests, 459 were made on the Tempe campus, and 308 took place in residential facilities on the Tempe campus, according to the report.
Liquor law arrests in residential facilities across all four campuses increased over the past three years with 334 in 2009, 323 in 2008 and 299 in 2007, according to the report.
In a statement accompanying the report, ASU Police Chief John Pickens said the department is committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment.
“The men and women of the ASU Police Department are some of the most dedicated individuals in the state of Arizona who are committed to making a difference in the community,” Pickens said. “I encourage you as a member of the ASU community to ‘join us in partnership’ and report any unusual activity you observe. I am confident you will find that members of the department are approachable, knowledgeable and provide excellent professional services.”
Reach the reporter at mhendley@asu.edu
