Crime is on the rise at Fresno City College. In the fall semester there has been multiple break-ins on campus, one of the biggest occuring over Halloween weekend.
When a total of 13 windows were smashed at the Business Education offices, and personal belongings were stolen.
Faculty and staff within the department would not comment on the issue because of an ongoing investigation, but the FCC Police Lieutenant, Richard K. Gaines said, “We were having some issues with that as far as trying to resolve it.”
Gaines also said that there was another incident over the weekend but the police were ready for it because of the previous two.
“We set up some surveillance, and over the weekend, we actually did catch individuals that had broken in and were inside the building. So we have two people we got in custody immediately and a third took off on foot,” Gaines said, but would not provide further information on the third individual.
These break-ins came at a high cost while the police did not have an exact estimate at this time. Gaines said, “The windows alone, we are estimating cost about $400 a piece. We’re talking over 20 rooms, so that’s quite a bit, and property wise, it’s about $10,000 in damages and theft.”
In addition to the break-in increase and grand theft on campus, petty theft is also on the rise.
Bike theft has become more common. Gaines said the number of bikes stolen each semester, “is significant enough that we take a lot of reports on the thefts.”
He added that the theft activity “goes in spurts, generally when the weather is good, and there are a lot of bikes out; that’s when we start getting thefts.
“They usually pick off the ones that aren’t locked first. Then the cable locks are easily defeated so they get picked up pretty quick.”
Gaines make a recommendation to bike users, who use the usual cable to lock them, “I would get the U-Locks they are very hard to break.”
Another concern on campus is physical safety.The SCCCD Police confirmed that there is no truth to the rumor that was floating around campus recently of a female student assaulted on the FCC campus.
According to the police logs, harassment and assault are reported at least once a week. Presently no self-defense classes or crime prevention programs are offered at FCC.
Gaines said the campus police is open to the idea. Before that can happen however, Gaines said there has to be a staff availability to, and a general interest from students.
Gaines said that in an emergency situation, one should always dial 911, but he explained that everyone learns the direct number of campus police,
“We’d be quicker; it’s right here on campus. Fresno Police department respond quickly, but unfortunately they don’t know the campus as well and they’re not right here like we are,” Gaines said.The direct number for campus police is 442-8201.
Gaines said that the crumbling economy has a lot to do with the growing crime, he said,
“There’s a lot of people out of work and it’s just one of those times.” He said, “I think that people look for opportunities for theft and around the holidays are always a lot busier. It’s kind of one of the bad parts of the holiday. We have a lot of crime that starts to pick up around this time of the year, and that’s probably what we’re experiencing now.”
