The University of Southern California’s annual security report showed an increase in certain crimes on campus in 2022.
The 2023 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report found there were 51 reported rapes on campus in 2022 compared to 39 in 2021. There was also a big jump in motor vehicle thefts with 322 reported in 2022 compared to 72 in 2021. Robbery reports also increased from 26 in 2021 to 36 in 2022.
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Reports of stalking on campus went from 23 in 2021 to 73 in 2022. Aggravated assault reports also climbed up to 52 in 2022 compared to 38 in 2021.
Assistant Chief of Public Safety David Carlisle told the university’s student newspaper, the Daily Trojan, that COVID was a big factor.
“If you have to go back and look at the crime table, what you have to account for is COVID,” he said. “So crimes reported in [the past few years] were significantly reduced because so many students were not here, working remotely.”
When it comes to motor vehicle thefts, Carlisle told USC Annenberg Media that personal e-scooters, which do count as motor vehicles, are easy to steal.
“Unlike the types of scooters that you may see parked on the sidewalk around campus, which are owned by private companies, the scooters owned by students don’t require a key or a start button,” he said. “You just get on them and go.”
Carlisle also spoke about the report to the university’s student newspaper, the Daily Trojan. He said one
One student told KNX News’ Craig Fiegener he feels safe on campus.
“But if I had like a daughter or something like that going to school, I probably wouldn't,” he added.
You can view the full report here.
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