by Lydia Fielder
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — In colleges across the country, students are away from home, many for the first time. Two recent burglaries at local apartments led to sexual assaults, leaving students concerned for their safety.
On Aug. 21 a man broke into a woman’s apartment at the Vue complex and touched himself while he watched her sleep. On a separate occasion a little over a month later on Sept. 28, a man came in through a woman’s balcony while she was sleeping at Hill Place Apartments and sexually assaulted her.
Hill Place resident Katie Gerth said she was not overly worried about her safety until she received an email from the complex stating there had been an assault.
“It’s just kind of scary to think that there are really people out there that have the need to break into someone’s apartment,” Gerth said. “Especially if they are already locked.”
UAPD Cpl. Allen Porter said students can stay safe by mixing up their daily routines and routes to and from class and home.
“You don’t have to be paranoid, but you do have to think hypothetically,” said Porter. “Somebody may be following you, so by mixing up your routes, you make it harder to be picked out as a potential victim.”
If a perpetrator is already inside, Porter said the best thing to do is lock yourself into a secluded area, like a bathroom or bedroom, where they cannot get to you. Then, use your cell phone to call police, or scream for help. Making noise by banging on doors and yelling can also help deter an intruder. If you live close to the bottom of the apartment complex, lock the door then exit the building.
Other tips include keeping all doors and windows locked and covered, having speed dial ready for direct calls to relatives or significant others, utilizing panic-button apps, remaining aware of surroundings, and planning ahead to ensure you are traveling with someone you trust.
Porter said the recently displaced homeless population in Northwest Arkansas could be attributed to the spike in these types of crimes.
“Maybe these individuals are part of the homeless population, maybe they aren’t,” Porter said. “But whether they’re just looking for a place to stay, or if it’s a crime of opportunity, if it’s open, they’re going to take advantage of it.”
Students can download the RAVE Guardian safety app to check in with family, friends, UAPD or others to help stay safe both on and off campus. Users can notify people they trust to check in if they are alone or in an unfamiliar place, or call UAPD directly for help.