Recently a rash of computer burglaries occurred at the Claremont Colleges. Around the October 23 and 24, laptop computers were stolen from a number of locked and unlocked dorm rooms across the campuses. In most cases where an incident like this occurs, Campus Safety is called and a report is filed. But then what?

According to an extensive set of guidelines set forth in an agreement between Campus Safety and the Claremont Police Department, in crimes of property such as these, a report will be taken only by Campus Safety, and forwarded at a later date to the police. This action is taken, according to Lena Robinson, Director of Campus Safety, for "what we call ‘cold’ report calls, or crimes where there is no suspect information and/or no collectible evidence at the scene."

When crimes involve a theft, CPD is called only when the value of the stolen property exceeds $5000, the suspect is known, the crime has just occurred, or there is a considerable amount of evidence, such as fingerprints, that can be gathered. Otherwise, Campus Safety conducts the crime report in lieu of CPD. Once the report is sent to the police, the information is entered into the computer system and referred back to if further evidence surfaces.

If there has been considerable evidence or possible suspects, CPD will assign the crime to a detective, who will investigate the case. Without any such leads, however, as is the case in many smaller crimes, CPD cannot conduct an investigation.

While the reports can sometimes be delayed in reaching CPD, this only occurs when the necessary procedures can be fulfilled by Campus Safety. In this way, Campus Safety can act as an extension of the police. "[Without this system] we would be running over to the colleges constantly", said an officer of the CPD.

Essentially, the idea is to avoid involving the police department when it is unnecessary: either when an incident can be resolved within the colleges, or when there is no instrumental role that they can play.

A number of other types of crime warrant an immediate call to CPD. According to Robinson, CPD will be contacted immediately regarding the following incidents: Crimes against persons, indecent exposure, annoying phone calls when the suspect is known, grand theft auto, traffic collisions on city streets, injury traffic collisions, hit and run traffic collisions, traffic collisions involving a Campus Safety vehicle, driving under the influence on public or private property, incident requiring an arrest.

Also, when the victim demands that CPD take the report, even if it does not meet the above criteria.