The LSU Police Department, along with other groups on campus, are taking more preventative measures when it comes to crime. Programs like “If You See Something Say Something” and the bait bike programs are steps by the University to reduce crime on campus.
This year LSUPD saw 5,000 more calls for service in 2012, the last year prior year where calls were measured. However, there was not much increase in crime, something LSUPD spokesman Capt. Cory Lalonde attributes to the “If You See Something Say Something” campaign launched in 2011.
The campaign encourages members of the University community to report any sort of suspicious activity, and it appears to have an impact thus far.
In addition to the campaign Student Government passed a bill in October funding a bait bike program, which will use a bike equipped with a GPS device to track thieves.
Although Lalonde would not comment on the department’s implementation of the bait bike, there was a recent spike in bike theft crimes, possibly due to the program.
The University also saw three sexual assaults this semester, two committed off campus by a student at the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center, and one committed on campus in a dorm.
Lalonde said he encourages victims of all crimes to come forward and report, but acknowledged that sexual assaults are a special case.
Even if the victim doesn’t come to the police, they should still report the assault to someone such as a relative or the Student Health Center, Lalonde said.
The LSU police department is testing new equipment which automatically scans and pulls up data on nearby license plates.
