UC police significantly increase patrols to combat crime in the new year

CINCINNATI - University of Cincinnati police has significantly stepped up patrols to get a handle on the crime, as part of a new 2013 initiative.

The department added four more patrols in the new year.  Last year, there were only two patrols working the night  shift. The six patrols now monitor the main roads surrounding campus every night between the hours of 5 p.m. and 4 a.m. The shift does not include patrols already working for the day.

Freshman Chase Watkins has definitely noticed more patrols.

"Definitely where there will be the occasional cop car, there's someone on every corner it seems," Watkins said.

The increased patrols around campus is something University of Cincinnati President Santa Ono wanted to push starting in January, following a report from Business Insider naming the university as the 13th-most dangerous college in America at the end of November. The report found more than 20 violent crimes and nearly 600 property crimes per year between 2008 and 2011.

Sunday morning, the crime continued at approximately 8 a.m. at 625 Probasco Street. An employee of an apartment complex said a suspect armed with a handgun attempted to rob her in the parking lot and managed to flee the scene, according to Cincinnati police.

The suspect is described as a black male with dark skin and all dark clothing, wearing a black hat with plaid on the side.

Students said they weren't surprised to hear about the incident.

University of Cincinnati police are working with the university and Cincinnati police to try and stop things like this from happening in 2013. 

Students said they feel relatively safe on campus, but will take the extra precautions as soon as they step off of campus.

"Me and my friends definitely, when we venture off campus, we kind of plan where we are going, and the emails sent out definitely let us know where the streets are that we should and shouldn't be at," freshman Kelly Cavanaugh said.

The university is also considering making the campus more closed off from the public. Students said they are not opposed to this and are glad that the school and police are taking all the necessary steps to keep them safe.