Recently, a crime wave has alarmed many students at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus. Two sexual assaults in the U of M area, as well as burglaries and armed robberies have brought public safety to the forefront of attention. A legislative hearing on Dec. 10 met to talk about campus safety, as well as touch on the fact that the changing character of Minneapolis plays a role in the recent crime spree.

According to research done by the Minneapolis police force in recent crime reports, the city’s growing population calls for a more widespread police force if the city is to really shut down criminals more effectively.

Most of the recent crimes have taken place off-campus including the two sexual assaults and twenty-two of the twenty-five reported personal robberies. In a recent testimony, Sheriff Rick Stanek acknowledged that not only is the U of M campus experiencing a high rise in crime, but other metro counties are as well.

Most often criminals target younger students who are visibly using their iPhone or other Apple products. Criminals use this tactic as a way to ensure that their victims are richer students with more to steal. Once stolen, the criminals often put the devices on Craigslist for quick cash.

On Craigslist, 2,700 used iPhones are up for sale in the Twin Cities area. Officer Stanek asked that congressional action be taken to permanently disable service to cellphones and other stolen devices so that they can’t be sold as easily.

Tactics such as crime alerts and efforts to inform and encourage the student body to stay aware of their surroundings is hoped to keep students safe on the streets. Students as well as those in the U of M area are encouraged not to walk alone. They are also encouraged to be alert while walking, and stay off their headphones and phones.