Mount Pleasant Police Department prepares for increased crime rates over Welcome Weekend
Although Central Michigan University students are not solely responsible for the crime rate in Mount Pleasant, they do play a significant role, said Isabella County Sheriff Department Undersheriff John Tellis.
Tellis believes the number of crimes will go up exponentially as soon as the fall semester begins.
“Anytime you have an increase in population, the volume of crime goes up," Tellis said. "When the students come back, there is a lot of theft that is reported."
There are more opportunities for theft with computers and other valuables returning to the area, therefore more crime will surface, he said.
One of the more significant periods of time during the year when crimes are committed is during Welcome Weekend.
CMU Police Lt. Cameron Wassman said during Welcome Weekend, police activity levels pick up considerably.
“(During) 2010 Welcome Weekend the CMU Police Department took 35 criminal reports, the majority being either larcenies (primarily bicycles) or destruction of properties (primarily vehicles),” Wassman said.
Trends also show the majority criminal acts committed on Welcome Weekend involve alcohol, he said.
“On these type of weekends, we as a police unit take a zero-tolerance type of approach,” Wassman said. “We’re going to have extra staff, extra officers, and extra foot patrols.”
Aside from Welcome Weekend activity the amount of crimes committed in Mount Pleasant remains largely the same.
Frequently reported crimes include malicious destruction of property, aggravated assault and larceny.
According to the Mount Pleasant Police Department, there were 298 incidents of malicious destruction of property in 2010, 259 in 2009, and 290 in 2008.
There were 37 aggravated assaults in 2010, 52 in 2009 and 43 in 2008. Larcenies were also abundant with 200 in 2010, 193 in 2009 and 210 in 2008.
