Thanks to the February break-in at Brown and Brew coffee shop and a virulent outbreak of vehicle-related theft, burglary has characterized Tufts' crime scene this spring.
But while campus and local security forces are taking steps to improve on-campus security in light of these recent crimes, security efforts fall well within the norm of those taken in previous years.
So far this semester, at least 13 vehicles have been broken into and at least one was stolen and stripped for parts.
In 2004, six incidents of motor vehicle theft - the unauthorized stealing of motor vehicles - were reported to the TUPD. In 2003 and 2004, 55 and 35 incidents respectively of burglary - the breaking into a house or structure with the intent of theft or larceny - were reported. These statistics, however, do not differentiate between crimes that involve cars and those that do not.
Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) Captain Mark Keith said that the break-ins at Tufts correspond with an increase in car burglaries in the cities of Medford and Somerville, and that police forces have stepped up patrolling efforts throughout the area accordingly.
"We have increased our efforts in patrolling the parking lots," Keith said. "We've talked with Medford, Somerville and Arlington ... we have the lines of communication open amongst us. There are some possible suspects in mind."
Keith said that because a rise in break-ins occurred at roughly the same time on the Tufts campus and in the surrounding cities, TUPD suspects that the surges may be connected.
"The car vandalizing is not that uncommon, although it is not that common either," Dean of Students Bruce Reitman said. "It mainly happens because someone decides to pick on our ritzy cars."
Director of Public and Environmental Safety John King said that an individual was arrested several weeks ago attempting to steal a license plate from a vehicle, but that damage to cars continued after the arrest.
"We are dealing with more than one individual," King said.
According to King, the University has more officers on patrol attempting to catch perpetrators "in the act."
During Tufts' spring break, there were no reported break-ins, and the department has not received word of any since students returned to campus.
"[I] expected increased activity," Keith said. With fewer people on campus but many cars left behind, he reasoned that burglars might have been tempted to increase their efforts.
Burglaries have not been isolated to vehicular break-ins, however: Brown and Brew was broken into on the weekend of Feb. 18. One safe from the coffee shop was stolen, and a second safe was broken into.
Despite regular requests for comment since the incident, TUPD has repeatedly declined to comment because the matter remains under investigation.
"It isn't the vandalism that bothers us as much as the other kinds of incidents, like the problems at Brown and Brew, which scare the heck out of a community like ours," Reitman said.
King said that the case remains open but that there are no new leads.
Authorities see the crime as an alarming, but isolated, incident that does not necessarily detract from the campus' generally safe setting.
Although Tufts has a relatively low history of criminal offenses, Reitman said that students should keep in mind that the University still neighbors the city of Boston.
"City schools deal with security issues all the time, by the nature of where they are located," Reitman said. "[Tufts hasn't] been discovered yet, in a sense, mainly because we are off the beaten path. Because of that I think students here take safety for granted."
Lieutenant Paul Kovino of the Medford Police Department (MPD) said that the general safety in Tufts' host city is good.
"It's never been a type of [situation] where you have to worry about walking down the street," he said.
Kovino did say, however, that incidents of theft are a concern, and that levels of robbery fluctuate. He mentioned that there may be a group of individuals "working the area," accounting for the current uptick in break-ins.
MPD has a productive relationship with the TUPD, Kovino said. "We have a good working relationship. We help them when they need help and they help us when we need help," he said.
"Community policing has to be a partnership between the police department and the members of our community," King said. In his 17 years at Tufts, King says security programs have improved and greatly benefited the community.
"We certainly have added a tremendous amount of electronic security, better lighting and blue light phones," he said. "Training for our staff has improved dramatically."
King said that city and University detectives and chiefs hold meetings and collaborate to enhance security.
"Public Safety has been doing a good job," Reitman said.
In June of 2005, the TUPD was accredited by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission, becoming one of only 18 of Massachusetts' 400 police forces to achieve this highest designation.
According to King, in order to be
accredited, the TUPD had to comply with 300 professional law enforcement standards and policies. Tufts' is only the second college force after Mount Holyoke College to attain this status.
It is a "significant professional milestone for any organization," King said. "It is difficult to achieve."
Keith said that over his 18-year tenure at Tufts, the department has made efforts to increase and improve their public-safety awareness and support programs.
Operation Awareness informs all first-year students about campus safety concerns and educates on how to seek help if needed.
"We try to educate students and staff to take steps to prevent them from becoming a victim," Keith said. "We've increased our programs, our advertising. In that regard we've come a long way."
Keith said that in years past, more people from the community caused on-campus disturbances, a trend he attributed partially to increased activity in fraternity houses.
"That brought in a lot of off-campus people," he said.
Students are hopeful for a boost in security after the recent crimes on campus.
"I get back to school from my job at midnight sometimes," sophomore Chrysten Fahey said. "The reports of car robberies worry me because I park my car in the Cousens lot, which is a good walk from the dorms."
"Frankly, the Brown and Brew break-in doesn't worry me at all," sophomore Adure Obioha said. "No one was mugged or anything.
"What does worry me is walking around campus at night, and I think the police are doing a better job of staying visible," she added.
