Apartment complexes near the University are beginning the semester with a focus on safety in reaction to September’s peeping Tom incidents.
Steve Danos, 24, has been charged for the crimes.
“Danos, or the ‘Serial Snuggler,’ was able to enter at least 12 apartments through doors that had been left unlocked,” said Major Mark Shaw of the LSUPD. “On the heels of a serial killer, young people leaving themselves vulnerable like that is disturbing.”
Danos turned himself into authorities Sept. 30 and was charged with seven counts of burglary of an inhabited dwelling, four counts of unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling and a single count of battery. All of these incidents occurred in University House on Brightside Drive and University Commons on Burbank Drive.
Security is not the focus of residential communities, but apartment managers want to enforce crime prevention and emphasize personal safety in the New Year.
“We cannot promote security,” said Joy Weaver, Spokesperson for First Worthing, the corporation that owns University House. “We cannot promise you will be safe living here. We have patrols that continually drive through the community, but University House always reminds residents that safety is something they need to take personally.”
Management at apartment complexes agree that safety, not security, is their aim.
“Security is a word I cringe at because it implies a guarantee,” said Tammy Lane, Property Director of Oakbrook Suites on Nicholson Drive. “A resident’s personal safety is something that cannot be guaranteed.”
Oakbrook will host several safety seminars for its residents and has begun more strictly enforcing its policy of fining residents who let strangers into the access gates.
“It is in the [Oakbrook] lease not to allow people you don’t know into the gates,” Lane said. “Many residents do it anyway and we are trying to make them more aware of the policy, as well as enforce it better. Management can fine anyone caught letting a stranger into the complex, but we don’t do it to give residents a hard time.”
Both Smith Apartments on Swire Avenue and Varn Villa Apartments on Brightside Drive feel that they already have sufficient safety precautions.
“In addition to door and window locks, we have lots of outside lighting,” said Ann Webb, owner and manager of Smith Apartments. “There are not bushes or anything that people can hide behind. Tenants are famous for leaving windows unlocked in case they lose their key. I remind them to call me if they get locked out of their apartment instead.”
Shaw suggests that students living in residential communities keep doors and windows locked, look into the purchase of a wireless alarm system and attempt to form neighborhood watch programs.
“Neighborhood watch systems are good, particularly if the off-campus resident does not have off-duty police officers patrolling or a police cruiser parked in their complex to serve as visible deterrents,” Shaw said. “In the case of Danos, nothing was going to stop him from doing what he did. He was willing to take any risk.”
Danos is still awaiting a trial date, but the crimes he is accused of committing continue to affect the LSU community.
“The apartment complexes are really stepping up to do what they can, but it is up to their residents to ensure their own safety,” Shaw said.