Daniels addresses increased crime rate

University President Ronald J. Daniels sent an email to Homewood students, faculty and staff to announce increased efforts from the University to bolster security on and around the Homewood Campus on Monday after another armed robbery near campus on Sunday.

According to the Homewood daily crime log, which records crimes as they are reported, there have been 10 robberies since the beginning of the semester, eight of which were armed.

This is a noticeable increase from previous years. According to the 2016 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, which was released earlier this month, only seven robberies were reported in 2016 and six in 2015.

These incidents are part of a city-wide trend of increased crime. According to The Baltimore Sun, homicides spiked after the death of Freddie Gray in April 2015 and the uprising that followed. In 2015, the City saw 344 homicides and there were 318 in 2016.

The Sun also reported that there have already been 289 homicides in 2017. In addition, as of this May, robberies were also reported to be up 17 percent from last year.

In his email, Daniels reaffirmed the University’s commitment to keeping the campus safe, writing that Hopkins has increased the size of its security force.

“We have been dogged in our determination to keep our campuses safe and secure, and we understand that a comprehensive and visible security presence is the best way to deter crimes,” Daniels wrote.

He also wrote that the University recently added 12 security personnel and three patrol routes to the area east of campus, including along Guilford Avenue, where four armed robberies have occurred this semester. The University will also convene a special response unit of former police officers to address changing threats.

Daniels wrote that he hopes to improve the lighting on the streets around campus and upgrade the University’s security cameras. He also said that Hopkins would work to create more University-affiliated housing options for upperclassmen that are closer to campus.

Development projects like apartment complexes Nine East 33rd and Remington Row have led to improvements in the neighborhoods of Charles Village and Remington, according to Daniels.

Daniels also addressed long-term efforts to reduce crime around campus.

“The best long-term strategy to increase the safety of the campus community is to nurture and invest in neighborhoods for stable, mixed-income residents, strong schools, green spaces, and good public amenities,” he wrote.