Burglary at UNM is declining, and motor vehicle theft has increased, according to the UNM Police Department's 2003 crime statistics released this month.
The statistics of reported crimes have remained stable since 2001 and reflect minor strategic and personnel changes, UNMPD Cmdr. James Daniels said.
"If you go back several years, it's in the average," he said.
Motor vehicle theft tends to mirror city trends, he said, both of which increased in 2003.
Kristin Henderson, who parks her car at South Lot, said she researched the city's crime level before moving to Albuquerque.
"Crime in this part of the city is very unfavorable," she said. "I don't know if I'd feel comfortable leaving my car (at South Lot) past 6 o'clock. I'm out of here before it gets dark."
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She said she thinks her car is safe there during the day because of the high level of foot traffic.
On Sept. 14, Antoinette Murphy reported her 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass missing.
According to the police report, Murphy said she parked her car at a bus stop where a lot of people walk, but that didn't deter the thief.
Fifty-nine vehicles were reported stolen in 2003 - 21 more than the year before.
Erin Blanton, spokeswoman for the Department of Parking and Transportation Services, said the University spends nearly $200,000 annually on security, but safety on its parking lots is mostly the UNM Police Department's responsibility.
She declined to say how many security officers are assigned to each parking lot, because it would compromise security efforts, she said.
In 2003, 44 cases of burglary were reported - 56 less than 2002.
No cases of homicide or hate crime have been reported to the UNMPD since before 2001.
Daniels said burglary declined last year in part because the UNMPD caught or deterred a few burglars.
"But next year, when it goes back up to 100, I don't want to get slammed for it either," he said.
UNM student Thomas O'Brien said the 12 cases of reported aggravated assault do not worry him. He said he's not too worried about walking through campus at night.
"Due to my size and my gender, I wouldn't have to worry about that as much as, say, a woman or someone that's much smaller than me."
Daniels has been compiling UNM's crime data for 10 years. He said he's been working with departments that can help students compile statistics for this year.
Daniels said it's important for departments to give him accurate statistics.
"Please give me this information when I ask for it, because it's my butt on the line here," he said.
Daniels said the penalty for issuing erroneous crime statistics is $25,000.
