Crime in South Oakland on the rise

Oakland saw a rise in violent crime from 2002 to 2003, with a particularly large increase… Oakland saw a rise in violent crime from 2002 to 2003, with a particularly large increase in South Oakland.

Tim Delaney, chief of Pitt’s police department, said that the population of student residents is rising in South Oakland — which, in the department’s reckoning, is the part of the region south of Forbes Avenue — and that this is one possible reason for the rising crime rate.

“The nature of students is that they are concentrating on their studies and parties and aren’t concentrating on the shady individual standing around who looks like he isn’t doing anything productive,” Delaney said.

He said that the area’s burgeoning bar scene also draws in more people from throughout the city, thus causing more crimes.

“Things go in cycles in the city,” he said. “A few years ago, it was really quiet in Oakland, when all the activity was in the Strip District or Station Square.”

Between 2002 and 2003, robberies in South Oakland increased by 300 percent, aggravated assault by 257.1 percent, motor vehicle theft by 31.8 percent and other types of theft by 30.4 percent.

There were two murders in South Oakland in 2003, while there were none in 2002 anywhere in Oakland.

In both 2002 and 2003, though, there were no reported rapes in South Oakland.

Opposing the trend, burglaries in South Oakland decreased by 12.8 percent between 2002 and 2003.

In comparison, in the entirety of Oakland, robberies increased by 12.1 percent in 2003 — when compared to 2002’s stats — aggravated assault by 45.3 percent, motor vehicles theft by 6 percent, other types of theft by 0.3 percent, burglary by 4.1 percent and rape by 100 percent.

The only two murders in Oakland in 2003 were the aforementioned ones in South Oakland.

Thus far, 2004 has been a violent year for Oakland.

Four incidents of armed robbery occurred from Jan. 22 to 28, including one in which a victim was shot in the foot.

On Feb. 21, a woman reported being sexually assaulted in Litchfield Tower A.

And on March 9, an argument led to a man being shot and killed at a bar on North Craig Street.

In response to these trends, Zone 4 Officer Ashley Thompson of Pittsburgh’s Crime Prevention Unit would like to see a neighborhood watch patrolling some of the more dangerous streets in South Oakland, but said that it is up to students and other residents to take the initiative.

“It’s up to the community to contact me about a block watch,” Thompson said. “There are so many services the police department offers as far as crime prevention goes.”

Personal safety lessons, classes specifically for seniors and vehicle registration are among the services Thompson said the police department offers.

“All those services are there,” he said. “I’m not sure if [South Oakland residents] are aware of it.”

According to Thompson, though, since students only live in the community for a limited time, they are not likely to take such steps to improve it.

“Nothing against students, but it’s common sense that students will not have the extended interest to improve the community,” he said. “But still, they should be concerned, because they are the ones walking the streets who are vulnerable.”

Delaney said Thompson has a good idea, but is uncertain as to whether or not it is practical.

“Obviously, the eyes and ears help the police,” Delaney said. “But the problem is the transient population.”

Delaney said Pitt should offer more safety and crime prevention programs with freshman orientation, and that students should take part in similar programs when they decide to move off campus.

He also recommended that students lock the doors to their homes and cars, and leave valuables out of plain sight.