For a period of several weeks, the Fresno City College campus has experienced a spike in robberies, break-ins and thefts.
Throughout the entire year of 2011, there were 44 campus police reports related to vehicle thefts, burglaries or robberies. In 2010, crime data revealed a total of 24 reported incidents.
During the past 35 days alone, campus police have filed 31 reports in response to burglar alarms, vandalism, robberies, break-ins and thefts.
Among the more serious cases, the Fresno Bee reported that around 9 p.m. on Nov. 19, a female student was accosted in the school parking lot by two Bulldog gang members. After obtaining her cell phone and threatening her, they promptly took her keys and sped away in her 1999 Toyota Corolla. Early the following morning, the 24-year-old and 25-year-old men were arrested and booked in county jail.
On Nov. 14 and Nov. 15, campus police officers filed reports on ten crimes: five petty thefts, three burglaries including two involving automobiles and two acts of vandalism, also known as “malicious mischief.”
Personal property including stolen and vandalized vehicles, the contents of vehicles, bicycles, the contents of backpacks and the personal belongings of various instructors were all subject to the recent spike in criminal activity.
In what appears to be a coordinated effort to burglarize several FCC instructors, thieves used the same technique to scope out and break into two instructor offices as well as the gym. Someone spray painted the doorways with a red stripe and would return later in the night to smash windows and steal valuables.
Victims include Shana Munoz, English department chair and Dr. Bernard Navarro, Native American studies professor and sociology department chair.
Dr. Navarro’s office was broken into twice in as many days.
“They hit one window the first night and my other window last night,” the instructor said.
During their first run, burglars stole several of the Navarro’s sentimental indigenous objects including a 60-year-old jar. The following night, thieves returned to steal his personal computer that contained more than 10 years of his work.
“I had some spiritual stuff in (the office). They left that behind, thank God,” said Navarro. “I’m taking all that stuff home. Anything of value is gone.”
The campus police department has only 15 sworn peace officers to protect a campus of more than 30,000 enrolled students. The patrol grounds also include Ratcliff Stadium and Euless Park. There are too few night patrolmen to adequately protect the entire premises; nor are there enough cameras to effectively hold individuals accountable for their crimes.
Many outdoor lights are turned off throughout campus at night. Most of the locations affected by this recent crime spree were located these low or no light areas.
“I talked to the evening sergeant. I told him it’s just pitch blackness. If anybody goes snooping around, they’re not going to be identified; they’re not going to be detected. Sure enough, they came back,” said Navarro. “They need to get people on campus out of here that don’t belong here.”
Student bicyclists are suffering a great deal more than usual in recent months as well. Many students rely on this form of transportation because they are too financially strapped to find alternative transportation. For this reason, bicycle thefts can have a especially devastating impact on those living below the poverty line.
Tagging is also a growing problem on campus. Vandalism in unlocked and low traffic restrooms have frequently been reported.
There have also been at least two reports of forced sexual assault during the past three years.
Criminal activity near the campus is a serious concern as well. On Nov 21, a Fresno man was shot in the foot at an apartment complex located just north of the college. The man left a trail of blood as he walked south on Blackstone Ave., eventually collapsing in front of the Yale avenue gas station. He was rushed to the hospital shortly thereafter.
On Sept 5, a homeless man allegedly stabbed a Fresno City College student repeatedly in her doorway. The slain student lived in an apartment complex 100 yards from campus grounds.
Students, staff and members of the public with any information regarding serious crimes should either dial 911 or contact the campus police immediately at 559-442-8201.
