On Tuesday and Wednesday night, InterHall and the Southwest Quad Community Council hosted a crime prevention summit with the Department of Public Safety to raise student awareness about crime prevention.
During the event, students could register their laptops and bikes with a national registry service. According to Talib Abdur-Rahim, DPS crime prevention coordinator, registration is meant to deter theft and help recover stolen items.
Dalvin Butler (COL ’13), who serves on the community council and is InterHall’s vice president of external affairs, said the event was originally conceived of by the Southwest Quad Community Council in response to the slew of laptop thefts last semester.
“It’s a way for InterHall, the Community Council, and DPS to get smart on crime by providing safety tips to residents [on campus],” he said.
Among these tips were ones often touted by DPS, including advice to lock doors and windows, secure bikes, and keep laptops within sight while studying in places like Lauinger Library. At least 21 bicycle thefts and five laptop thefts have occurred on campus since the beginning of the 2011. In at least five cases, the stolen items were unsecured.
“Lots of theft stems from students,” Butler said, citing negligent habits that have led to thefts in the past. “Part of the goal and mission is to have students experience safety precautions and raise awareness.”
According to Joseph Smith, the University’s associate director of public safety, the fact that many students have a laptop and bring bikes to campus makes theft more likely.
“If there is going to be crime, it’s going to be in those areas,” he said, while adding that age and gender demographics create a heightened risk of sexual assault.
Despite incidences of assault and theft, Smith said he considers Georgetown a safe campus.
“I think we’re quite a safe campus if you look at crimes against person, like robbery and sexual assault, our numbers are quite low compared to the rest of the city,” he said.
However, Smith said that students should not let their guard down.
“Students should still practice safety protocols,” he said.
College campuses, according to Abdur-Rahim, are often susceptible to crime because students do not realize how much crime happens in cities like D.C.
“Students should be vigilant and not complacent,” he said. “Much of the student population is naïve.”
