SDSU's criminal state

The good news out at San Diego State University is that through March of this year there has been only one rape, compared to last year’s five during the same period. Robberies were also down, from six to two, according to reports posted online by the campus’s chief of police. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for burglaries, which went from 16 to 18, and larcenies, which climbed to 158 from 139. Assaults went from 16 to 13. Reached by phone this week, SDSU chief of police John Browning said the school’s crime numbers “tend to vary year to year,” but of late have reflected an increase in bicycle thefts, which could be due to more bikes on campus. Motor-vehicle theft was off a bit, from 6 to 5. Back in March, the school posted a job notice for new cops, to be paid between $4135 and $5199 per month. A police dispatcher was also sought, to make between $3055 and $4584 a month. Browning said those hires are still in progress.