Suspicious Vehicle Gave Them Up

The CSULB police officers investigate suspicious vehicles daily, only to find nothing. However, on Dec. 4, 2009, an officer's investigation resulted in a misdemeanor and citations for three curfew violations.

After many months of suspicious vehicle checks coming up clear, an officer found an 18-year-old male supplying tobacco to a minor and three juvenile delinquents in violation of their curfew, as stated in the Activity Log.

While patrolling Parking Structure 3 late at night, a police officer spotted a car with condensation in the rear window, letting him know people were inside, as described in the police report. When a car is parked at odd hours; or is seen making multiple rounds, but not taking open parking spots; or has a trunk or door open; or has someone reaching into windows, an officer will investigate, according to Lt. Scot Willey.

There are many suspicious vehicle accounts in the Activity Log without any incident. Lt. Willey says, "The number one concern of campus officers is campus safety. To be safe, officers will checkout any suspicious vehicle, and many times everything is fine. If a car door is open an officer will look in to see if property appears missing and if everything looks normal, the officer will then secure the vehicle for the student."

Vandalism Here at CSULB

Public property gets vandalized everywhere, and the campus of Cal State University Long Beach is no exception. During the month of November, the campus police Activity Log notes four acts of vandalism at CSULB>

The log contains the common bathroom vandalism. On Nov. 4, 2009 campus police discovered damaged property in the men's restroom of the Education 2 building.

Callers reported dirty pictures, you might expect to find in restrooms, on campus trees. On Nov. 15, 2009 reports were filed of male genitalia carved into a ficus tree in lot 6. Trees in lot 4 had the same design.

That same day, someone a little late for Halloween tagged the stalls and trash can of the men's restroom in the Education 2 building with black and orange marker.
"It's a shame that a school with such a high academic reputation is littered with such juvenile chicken scratches!" says CSULB senior, Spencer Rummler. "Although, you know what i noticed in one bathroom? I can't remember where I saw this, but they installed white boards! I thought that was a creative solution. People could still get their 'grafitti on' with easy clean up."

As for outside of the restrooms, Rummler hasn't noticed any vandalism. If you too have missed these defacings, perhaps it is due to the campus's cleanup crew's immediate attention to this matter. On Nov. 25, 2009 campus police received a report of graffiti on the campus' south wall, off of Bellflower Boulevard. When police arrived at the scene, the cleanup crew was already covering the graffiti with paint.

According to Lt. Scot Willey the south end of campus attracts the most vandalism because it's close proximity to Seventh Street.

I Hate Getting My Car Impounded

It's scary enough driving around with expired tags--always trying to stay behind the cops, making sure a car is in between you and a cop. Why would anyone park on campus with expired tags? Your car is a sitting duck!

The campus police officers inspect vehicle registrations as part of their routine, crime-prevention checks of campus parking lots, Lt. Scot Willey confirms. Willey explains: "Police and parking officers radio in to our police dispatch center who will run and confirm the plate and its status. Whatever the DMV is showing at that exact time determines whether we act or not."

This last week campus police busted three people for expired registrations. And the Activity Log is littered with impounds entries.

Lot 11, 1 and 3 are the locations of the last three tows. What are you waiting for?

See the picture for what you will be given if your car is past registration. If you get to where you parked after its been towed, call the CSULB Police Department with your license plate and someone will tell you what lot to visit.

Who Prank Calls 911?!?

Thought prank phone calls were a thing of the past? An elementary school phase? Even in those younger days I knew there was nothing funny about prank-calling the cops, but perhaps some CSULB college students are sniffing too much glue.

Two prank 911 calls have occurred within the last couple of weeks. The activity log reports some students were caught on surveillance cameras.

This is a misdemeanor offense, and according to Lt. Scot Willey the police department will investigate and arrest confirmed offenders.

"We respond to all 911 calls, and the emergent nature increases when there is no answer on the caller's end," Willey stressed. "Calling 911 on a university campus is no different than calling 911 anywhere else. In fact, our police dispatchers are the 911 operators for not only our campus, but the surrounding areas as well."

If you do have an emergency don't hesitate to use any of the emergency telephones. Please see this link for Emergency Telephone Locations.

Haz-Mat Situation Here

Along with petty theft, grand theft, burglary, vandalism, public intoxication, marijuana use, an expired vehicle registration, a prank 911 call, and a trash can fire, CSULB had a Haz-Mat situation during these past two weeks.

A mobile science vehicle leaked an unknown substance in the corporation yard, behind the police station at CSULB, Oct. 19, 2009. Safety and risk management cleaned up the area.

[Updated 11/03/09 at 11:31 p.m.: The university vehicle leaked gas. Safety and risk management personnel cleaned up the area before any runoff made it to the storm drains, according to Lt. Scot Willey of the CSULB police department.]

Gunman Scare, or Lockdown Scare?

UC Santa Barbara student, Jeff Locken, was in the school library when the campus went on lockdown in response to a gunman report. He recalls that the majority of students were outside and went running for the doors only to be locked out. They banged, but no one let them in.

I asked CSULB campus police Lt. Scot Willey if this upsetting scenario could occur here, and basically lockdown means lockdown--no one in or out.

"Lockdown is an option, not a standard," says Willey. "Our first priority is finding the shooter and then notifying students through the Emergency Notification System."

Through the Emergency Notification System, Willey informed me, students can be told to head in the opposite direction, if it is an isolated incident, or to enter the closest classroom for lockdown--these are only two possible actions, each scenario is taken case-by-case.

Willey stressed the importance for every student and faculty member to be registered on the Emergency Notification System. He also assures that students will not be bogged down with notifications, this system is setup to be used only in times of emergency--to be taken seriously.

Students can register at MYCSULB, and designate how they would prefer to receive emergency notifications--texting is an option.

The UCSB gunman fiasco turned out to be just a scare, and one that ended too quickly for Locken's desire. "We went into lockdown at four-something, and were released at 4:26 p.m. I had a midterm at 5 p.m. and was hoping it would get cancelled," Locken said.

Nearby Shooting; Be Aware

This week CSULB thefts may be the most common incident--six reported--but maybe not the most startling.

Three CSULB police officers assisted Long Beach Police Department in a shooting at VA Hospital yesterday, Oct. 18, 2009. The suspect escaped in a light colored vehicle heading west on Seventh Street, according to the CSULB police Activity Log. The LBPD is investigating--more to come.

UCSB police officers investigated a campus gunman report today, Oct. 19, 2009. The campus went on lockdown from sometime after 3 p.m. until 5:28 p.m., according to LA Times. In the end police failed to find a gunman.

Luckily our campus police weren't called to a CSULB campus shooting, but awareness is key to safety. Make sure to sign up with the Emergency Notification System so you are immediately notified if one day our campus is not so lucky.

A Crime Update

Petty and grand thefts dominated the Activity Log. Students reported five bicycles, one cell phone and two cars stolen within the last two weeks.

All bicycle thefts occurred at residence halls--four from Parkside Commons (shown in the above picture) and one from Residence Commons.

The grand theft auto incidents, a tan 1991 Honda Accord and a red 2004 Ford Mustang, disappeared from lot 20 and lot 14 C respectively.

Coming in second on the Activity Log was vandalism--four accounts. Three were acts on cars--reports taken in lot 5, lot 14 B and at the university police station. The fourth incident was a broken dorm window at Parkside Commons.

Check out the Activity Log for detailed info on the above criminal acts as well as additional reports. Multiple vehicles continue to be impounded for expired registration, students are cited for using marijuana, a frat party gets out-of-hand and more...

From the Captain

Awareness is key to lowering crime and student safety, according to CSULB Campus Police Captain Fernando Solorzano.

Every year the crime statistics are published on the CSULB campus police website. Coupled with the Activity Log and Crime Alerts, the Clery Report divulges all of the need-to-know for student safety.

Students say property theft is CSULB's biggest crime problem. Captain Solorzano attributes this to students leaving their valuables unattended.

Next to drug and alcohol abuse, property theft is the biggest crime problem at CSULB, according to the 2008 crime statistics.

While touring the CSULB police station (October 2, 2009), I asked Captain Solorzano when was the last time they had someone in the holding cell, and what was the offense. It was the previous day, and the suspect was arrested for a methamphetamine violation.

The below data show a significant increase in drug and alcohol abuse at CSULB within the last three years:

								2006	2007	2008
			Liquor Violations					12	220	322
			Drug Abuse					4	33	82

If you need help, or know of anyone who needs help check out the CSULB Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs Program (ATOD)--for all of our safety.

Please also check out the links the Clery Report provides:

• Crime Statistics 2008
• Policy for the use of Drugs and Alcohol on Campus
• Reporting a Crime
• Crime Prevention tips to deter motor vehicle theft
• Specialized Seminars and Police Services
• Hate Crimes
• Sexual Assault
• Domestic Violence
• Need to Know Phone Numbers

Every student should know how to report, acknowledge and hopefully prevent a crime. Our campus is the fifth safest campus in the nation, beams Captain Solorzano. He attributes this achievement to the extensive security video surveillance, the 24-7 police patrol, the women's selfdefense classes, the Night Escort Program (CSO), the open house awareness events, the Emergency Notification System and the innovative campus directed 9-1-1.

When dialing 9-1-1 from a cell phone (while on campus) or a campus emergency phone, the call goes directly to our CSULB police center--for the quickest possible response. Our campus was the first in California to provide this service and some colleges still haven't stepped up, according to Captain Solorzano.

"We will find the best way to keep everyone safe, we will never leave anyone stranded," assured the Captain when asked what a girl can expect when she calls upon the night escort service (CSO).

Our police team works hard to keep us safe. I plan on taking full advantage of what it offers and kicking butt at the women's self defense class!

Crime in the Eyes of Students

Students at the Outpost Grill are well-aware of the CSULB theft issues. They say bicycles, laptops and backpacks are the hot items.

"It's freaky, her bike was locked up right next to mine!" says a student recalling a theft back in April.

And a CSULB soccer player remembers the "freaky backpack snatcher." According to the student, during practice his friend kept a close eye on his backpack because it contained his laptop. Soon after his pack was gone he knew and went running. He caught up with the thief who was carrying three snatched bags! Impressively he maintained his temper--letting the crook off with a few expletives. He filed a report, but police told him there was nothing they could do because he had his property back damage-free.

It is hoped the backpack snatcher changed his ways, as one student talks about an iphone snatcher that did. Upon realizing her iphone was missing, she sent multiple texts to her phone, pleading the thief to give it back. The guilt won over and the once-greedy man returned the stolen iphone.

A Look At What's Been Going On

During this last week the CSULB campus police were active. The Activity Log reports some serious offenses. See below for the quick run-down:

1 Warrant Arrest - Police found the man at the library and have booked him with Long Beach Police.

1 Medical – Someone threw an object at a female leaving her class. Fire and police responed, but she refused treatment. The log did not reveal whether they caught the perp.

1 Marijuana Complaint - "A CSULB POLICE OFFICER WHILE ON PATROL, OBSERVED A MALE SUBJECT SMOKING MARIJUANA BEHIND THE PS DINING HALL WITH ANOTHER MALE. ONE SUBJ WAS ISSUED A MISDEMEANOR CITATION FOR 11357(b)H&S - POSS. OF MARIJUANA > 1OZ."

3 Petty Thefts – Books from the bookstore, a bike from Residence Commons, and a Bike at South Turn.

1 Sexual Assault – No further description was given. Located at AS – 127.

[Updated 10/04/09 at 8:00 a.m.: A man in his fifties followed a 63-year-old female student and sexually assaulted her, September 25, 2009, recalls Captain Fernando Solorzano.

The man pursued his victim through multiple bus changes, to campus dining, where the lady stopped to eat, and then into the bathroom--where she sought safety.

The man pushed her up against the wall, kissed her neck and fondled her breasts. She screamed and he seemed to snap out of it. He ran, and not too long after was found and arrested.]

1 Grand Theft Auto – 87 CHEV CONVERSION VAN RED/GRY CA/2RQV433 at South Turn meters.

2 Animal Control – Police came to the rescue for a tortured baby squirrel. They then reunited it with others of it's kind. Police also saved a small dog, which was abandoned in a car. They took it to UPD for safe keeping.

3 Grand Thefts – Keys and martial art equipment totaling $500, Laptop and bag/cell phone.

7 Car Impounds – The reports claimed they were for expired or suspended registrations.

So watch out for flying objects, your personal belongings and maybe that van, for the little creatures on campus, and make sure your car is registered--impound fees on top of school and gas costs...I don't think so!

CSULB Crime Stories

The Campus Police page on the CSULB website has an activity log that lists all incidents the police encounter by date. The log includes the call number, date and time received, description, location, nature and disposition. It's an informative log, but where is that human interest and compelling story lines the TV drama Law & Order offers? I will tell the stories of Law & Order CSULB. I will keep a weekly log of crimes that occur on campus, crime alerts our campus police share with us and inside stories from our fellow students dealing with crime.

I hope to create a campus-wide interest in the CSULB crime scene. I hope to raise awareness to the issues that afflict our campus. Perhaps we can learn from or relate to the stories of our classmates.

For an in depth analysis of crime at CSULB check out the Go-Go Gadget CSULB Blog.