University Police are trying to stress to students the importance of prevention, not apprehension.

Between fall 2001 and fall 2002 crime decreased 59.3 percent, said UP Lt. Deborah Pettit.

“A good portion of that is because our officers are in there,” Pettit said. “With our presence and the relationships that we develop, you are going to think twice about doing anything.”

Pettit thinks that students need to keep their eyes open.

“All crimes happen because of opportunity, Pettit said. “It’s a matter of people taking care of each other.”

Pettit said students need to reduce at-risk behavior in order to help prevent crime. Students should focus on not overdrinking or accepting rides from strangers.

Pettit also said many people who use pepper spray often forget to take it out of their purse before they walk outside or have it buried in their pockets, where it is ineffective.

“There’s not a sexual assault that occurred in the last 22 years that I’ve been here that would have been prevented by pepper spray,” Pettit said.

Pettit said that if people are carrying something to protect themselves, like pepper spray, they have to be careful.

“Remember that it can be used against you,” she said. “If you have to have it, you better have it available and you better know how to use it.”

One of the ways the university tries to prevent crime and promote safety is with the Late Night Ride Service. Students can call every night between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. for a ride to and from wherever they want.

Lt. Matthew Kiederlen said the service is offered to protect the students and the community.

“Giving students a ride to and from, in essence, keeps them safer and the community safer,” he said. “We know that people walking around intoxicated are at a higher risk for bad things to happen to them.”

During the weekend of Jan. 24 and 26, the service received 279 calls with an average ridership of four people per call.

However, Pettit said the biggest crime on campus is theft, because belongings are left unattended. Kiederlen said locking doors can prevent more theft because it gets rid of opportunity.

“If there was one thing I could get every student to do on campus, it’s to lock their room in the residence hall when they leave, even when they go to the bathroom,” Kiederlen said.

To deter people from committing crimes, officers were placed in the residence halls in fall 2002.

Chief Donald Grady said the program helped tremendously.

“A real big thrust in the program is working with the community,” he said. “We’re working in partnership with the students.”

Substations are currently in Stevenson, Grant and Douglas Halls. Grady said that they’re looking to put substations in Lincoln and Neptune Halls, but there is not enough space or personnel at this time.

“[Preventing crime] really boils down to all that stuff mom and dad told you,” Kiederlen said. “Use your common sense.”