Crime Prevention Alert

(Nov. 14, 1996, Gazette)

This report is compiled from information made available by Campus Enforcement and Patrol (CEP). CEP is located in the Services Building on Memorial's St. John's campus; phone 737-8561. At Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, the security office is in the Arts and Science Building; phone 637-6310. Telephone 778-0456 to reach security at the Marine Institute, Ridge Road.

Charges laid in incidents of theft

On Oct. 23 a St. John's youth was charged with multiple counts of petty theft in relation to several robberies on campus. Three charges were laid as a result of personal property stolen from the Physical Education Building in October; three other charges stemmed from the theft of weigh balances from laboratories in the Chemistry-Physics Building in September. Most of the stolen property has been recovered and returned.

Beware of thieves during holiday season

Phil Smith, CEP's investigations officer, does not always look forward to the holidays. That's because he knows that thieves know that many people raise money for charity or social events and then leave the funds in their offices overnight during this time of year. Mr. Smith advises anyone responsible for such funds to deposit them in the bank to prevent theft.

Incidents reported

The figures below are based on the number of reports made to CEP in October 1996. Incidents reported do not necessarily result in criminal charges being laid; this depends on the outcome of an investigation.

Type of incident/October '96

Physical assault/2

Accidents/4

Drug,alcohol/1

Theft/attempted theft /16

Stalking/1

Harassment/1

Fire alarms/2

Disturbances/4

On Oct. 24 at 4:45 p.m., a female reported being physically assaulted in the main locker tunnel. She said a man grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her, then kicked her and grabbed her by the throat. She got away and ran. She described the man as white, approximately six feet tall and weighing 185 lbs., age 19-21 years, with close cropped dark blonde/light brown hair, a moustache and a broken front tooth. The man was wearing baggy jeans and a blue T-shirt. Anyone seeing a person matching this description should call Campus Enforcement and Patrol. A second physical assault on campus was reported to the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (not to CEP); it is recorded here for information. It occurred Oct. 18 in the Breezeway Bar and involved two females, one of whom received facial injuries, including a chipped tooth. Assault charges were laid against the other female.

None of the three accidents reported in October involved serious injuries.

On Oct. 13 at 2:27 a.m., CEP received a report that a male under the influence of alcohol had left the Breezeway Bar and was heading for his vehicle in Area 5. The RNC was informed and the man was apprehended in his vehicle.

The stalking incident was reported Oct. 1. A woman said that at 10 a.m. on Sept 30 a man followed her from the Thomson Student Centre (TSC) to Coughlan College via the tunnels. She described the man as being five feet, seven inches tall, 160 lbs., with dark hair, glasses with thick lenses, and a three-quarter length winter jacket without a hood. Anyone who sees a person matching this description should call CEP.

A woman reported that she and three friends were verbally harassed by another woman in the TSC food court on Oct. 17.

One attempted theft and 15 thefts were reported in October. Most involved personal property such as wallets, gym bags and bicycles. However, on Oct. 29 a blue Ford Explorer was reported stolen from the metered parking area near the Chemistry-Physics Building; and on Oct. 30, eight meters -- valued at $4,193.81 -- were stolen from the visitors parking area of the Health Sciences Centre (HSC). One attempted theft involved a vehicle which was reported stolen but later found.

Neither of the two fire alarms to which CEP responded involved fire.