A rise in crime, especially involving car thefts and break-ins,
has stricken Midtown and the surrounding area. During the first six
months of 2003 in St. Louis, 5,148 cars were stolen, which is an
increase of 26.3 percent.

In the 9th district, where Saint Louis University is located,
445 cars have been stolen, an increase of 87 percent.

On University property, three cars have been stolen, while five
have been stolen from streets in the surrounding area.

Earlier this summer two incidents occurred at the local bars
near campus where cars were stolen from parking lots. On the
morning of July 26 a DPS officer saw suspicious activity taking
place in the parking lot of Humphrey’s. A car was stolen from three
people who were getting in their car. A man approached them with a
pistol, demanded their car and then drove off.

After the car came out of the lot at high speed, the DPS officer
followed the car from Laclede Avenue through the Central West End
to Kingshighway Boulevard and Highway 40.

At the time, the DPS officer was unaware of the crime that had
just occurred.

On Aug. 4, three individuals in a car were followed by another
car and driver to Laclede Street Bar and Grill. Upon parking their
car the three people were approached by two men who held them at
gunpoint and demanded money, taking off with the car.

Because these incidents occurred near campus, Director of Public
Safety Jack Titone advises that individuals take caution when
driving into parking lots late at night.

“If you believe you are being followed, do not stop and get out
of your car. Instead, continue to drive off and head toward the
nearest police or DPS officer,” Titone stated.

Individuals steal cars so they can commit other crimes, said
Titone.

“The individuals committing the crimes know they will not be
chased in the stolen cars. Police are not chasing them due to
litigation and lawsuits for accidents that have resulted from car
chases,” Titone said.

The rash of car thefts in the area has led to the creation of a
30-member undercover Anti-Crime Task Force and “bait car” program
initiated by the St. Louis Police Department where the city will
leave a decoy vehicle, tempting car thieves.

These cars will suddenly stop running, and the doors will lock,
trapping the thief inside the car.

The St. Louis Police Department will use three vehicles that are
equipped with global satellite tracking systems, allowing the
officers to shut off the engines.

In addition to the car thefts this summer, four car break-ins
occurred on University property, and 14 occurred on the streets
that surround the University. The result of the break-ins range
from the removal of license plates and tags to the theft of stereo
equipment and personnel items.

With the return of students and vehicles on campus, DPS has
added additional patrols on Laclede Avenue and Lindell Boulevard,
in both marked and unmarked cars, for the first few weeks of the
semester. A permanent, marked patrol car has been added to the
Frost Campus as well.

DPS will continue to send out informational and safety alerts,
as the department believes it is important for the University
community to be aware of incidents.

Titone said, “An informed student body and community will allow
for people not to be victimized when off campus.”