No Murders or Rapes at Orange Coast College as Crime Drops 8.2%

Crime at Orange Coast College declined 8.2% in 1996-97, officials said.

About 167 serious crimes were reported, compared with 182 the year before.

No murders, hate crimes, rapes or sexual assaults were among the offenses.

But the crimes reported included one case of indecent exposure, one robbery, two aggravated assaults, eight assaults, one bomb threat, one arson and 40 burglaries.

There were 13 cases of grand theft, 17 vehicle thefts and 32 cases of vandalism.

The numbers were recently released by the Campus Public Safety Department.

In an effort to reduce crime, a full-time public safety officer was added to the Campus Public Safety Department, bringing the total number of officers to seven.

Officers also patrol the lots on campus 24 hours a day.

Every night after sunset, officers in squad cars flash their lights, maintaining a visible presence.

Another deterrent is the campus escort service, which provides safe walks for students from their classes to their cars.

Nearly 1,800 escorts were logged last year.

Officers also helped students, faculty and visitors jump start and unlock 2,189 vehicles.

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Campus Safety

Crime at Orange Coast College declined 8.2% in 1996-97 over the previous school year and has followed a downward trend since 1993-94. The trend in crime reports:

1992-93: 181

1996-97: 167

Source: Orange Coast College