COLUMBUS, Ohio — After just one week back on campus, students are noticing an increase in crime in the area.
Ervin Abbeyquaye, a student at Ohio State University, said getting those crime alerts in his email inbox was starting to get more than just redundant.
"I was a little worried,” he said.
“They were pretty constant. I wasn't gonna lie."
The Columbus Division of Police and the University are also noticing the surge.
Deputy Chief Jennifer Knight said their data, “shows a 51 percent increase in aggravated assaults, robberies to individuals and residential burglaries."
Columbus police said they are reallocating resources to Columbus’ Zone Four, the area around campus that's seen this crime surge.
They are putting more uniformed and plainclothes officers in the area, adding more bike units and university police to patrol.
Officers from both entities will be assigned sectors, and investigators will be assigned to those aggravated assaults and robberies campus has seen more of lately.
"Not only am I just chief of police, but I am also a mom,” said Ohio State University Chief of Police, Kimberly Spears McNatt.
“When we hear these calls of concerns that come in from parents. I understand, and I also share those same concerns."
Chief Spears-McNatt said the university has a grant from the state for even more security cameras off-campus.
Ohio State is also providing more prevention, like extending rideshare hours and getting social workers assigned in off-campus areas.
"We will have a police officer right around the corner. We will catch you. We will arrest you and we will prosecute you,” said Columbus Police Deputy Chief Knight.
Columbus police said just because they are reallocating their resources near campus does not mean they will stop addressing crime trends in other neighborhoods.
You can watch Wednesday’s briefing in the player below: