Report: Towson University Has One Of The Lowest Crime Rates In Md.
TOWSON, Md. (WJZ) -- A new report shows Towson University has one of the lowest crime rates in the state.
Christie Ileto reports it has less than seven percent.
This new stat is according to the latest report done by the FBI.
"I believe it," said Towson student Lindsay Taylor.
Students we spoke with aren't surprised by the new numbers.
"I've never been in a situation where I felt in danger here," said Lindsay Aaneson.
In fact, students feel public safety resources on campus are unlimited.
"We have all those blue things around that you can press and I normally travel around with people so I don't feel unsafe," said student Logan Binder.
Towson's crime rate has been on a steady decline since 1995. In fact, stats show thefts fell from 366 in 1995 to 119 last year, while property crimes fell from more than 400 in 1995 to 130 in 2011.
While most students we spoke to say the campus is safe, outside Towson is a different story. Just last month, campus police issued a crime alert after two students were held up at gunpoint after the campus shuttle dropped them off at off-campus apartments.
"We try to make it less desirable on campus committing a crime than it is to be elsewhere," said Deputy Police Chief of Towson University Charles Herring.
He attributes strong police presence, working with other agencies and educating students and faculty as factors to keeping criminals off campus.
Towson University's crime rate is only a fraction of Baltimore County's nearly 35 percent crime rate.
