Crime at KU drops about 7 percent

Crimes reported on Kansas University’s Lawrence campus dropped about 7 percent in 2005, according to reports released Wednesday by KU’s Public Safety Office.

The total number of crimes on campus fell from 818 incidents reported in 2004 to 754 in 2005. The grand total of reports, including those that occurred outside of the office’s jurisdiction, was 770.

Crimes in the 10 campus parking lots where surveillance cameras were installed last year dropped 23 percent, according to the public safety office.

The number of trespassing incidents doubled to 26 in 2005. Capt. Schuyler Bailey said that was because officers were finding more people with no affiliation to the university on campus.

Drugs/narcotics violations on campus also increased from 14 incidents in 2004 to 45 in 2005. Bailey said that was due to heightened awareness of KU staff and officers. The number of reported assaults on campus declined from 53 to 33.

Property crimes continue to account for the majority of reported campus crime. The report is available at www.ku.edu/~kucops.