Successoion of crimes in Oakland frightens students, brings concerns of safety

By BILAL MUHAMMAD Assistant News Editor

A string of violent crimes in South Oakland… By BILAL MUHAMMAD Assistant News Editor

A string of violent crimes in South Oakland alarmed some residents earlier this summer, so much so that some residents said they fear walking home at night.

Police increased their presence in Oakland after shootings occurred on Ward, Frazier and Dawson streets in South Oakland in May.

Pitt senior Bessie Flatley lives close to Frazier Street, where one of the recent shootings occurred on May 23.

“I was sitting in my room and I heard multiple gunshots in the distance,” she said. “I have to walk home late every night from work. And it freaks me out.

“I am very scared to live there.”

The Post-Gazette reported that two armed men robbed three female Pitt students June 9 on Zulema Street, near the Boulevard of the Allies. Police apprehended one of the suspects, but have not identified the other.

Despite the recent string of crimes, Pitt Police Chief Tim Delaney said in June that he thinks Oakland is still safe and a good place for Pitt students to live.

“I still think it’s very, very safe,” he said. “Obviously in this society, no matter where you go, there is crime everywhere. Watch the news and see.”

Delaney pointed to the fact that only one of the most recent incidents involved Pitt students. He added that city police are investigating whether or not the robbery on Zulema Street could be linked to the shootings last month, but asked that students not immediately link the robbery to last month’s shootings.

“Students shouldn’t take them and put them all together,” he said. “You have to look at these individually.”

He continued, saying that the people involved in the shootings weren’t concerned with students, but rather other people they knew.

Delaney added that for students to keep their neighborhoods safe, they need to keep a watchful eye and use common sense.

“Walk in pairs and avoid being out late at night,” he said. “Contact 911 if you see anything wrong.”

He encouraged students to take action — even on comparatively smaller problems, such as double-parked cars and public drunkenness.

“Take care of the small things,” he said, “then the bigger things will take care of themselves and go away.”

In contrast to Delaney’s clear vision of Oakland, student opinions on safety varied.

“North Oakland seems shady to me,” junior Zach Heilman said.

Heilman said a friend of his was robbed at gunpoint last fall while walking near Craig Street. Heilman said the assailants beat his friend badly before fleeing.

On the other hand, Heilman said he thinks South Oakland is perfectly safe.

“I’ve walked alone deep into South Oakland late at night many times and I’ve never had any problems,” he said. “It’s a nice community, and I think a lot of people would agree with me.”

Other students said that the visible presence of police quells their anxieties.

The Pitt Police have 23 marked vehicles and four patrols on duty at all times. Uniformed officers are assigned to residence halls while plainclothes officers patrol off campus.

Besides patrol cars, Pitt Police have a bicycle patrol unit designed to go places squad cars cannot.

Elisa Hupp, a senior at Pitt, has enjoyed living in North Oakland for two years, without any trouble in an area she believes is very secure.

“I don’t ever walk home late at night, but I think my neighborhood is really safe,” she said. “I’ve never seen the Pitt Police do a whole lot, but I see them around all the time. It makes me comfortable.”

Despite city and campus police patrolling the streets of Oakland late at night, there’s still some cause for students to feel unsafe, according to a 2003 University campus crime report.

In 2003, a total of 73 burglaries and 22 cases of aggravated assault were reported to city or University police. There were 14 cases of rape and three cases of arson, but there were no reported murders

Kate Jillard, a resident of South Oakland, chooses not to let violent crimes scare her.

“If I’m not drunk, I will definitely risk walking home alone in South Oakland,” she said. “I’ve never seen anything bad here, but I hear stories.

“Until I encounter it, I won’t worry about it.”

Senior Staff Writer Daveen Rae Kurutz contributed to this article.