The month of November saw six timely warning notifications sent from the University of Washington Police Department (UWPD) warning students of crimes on or around campus. That is double the number of notifications in both September and October of this year. Three of the assaults occurred before 4 p.m., during daylight hours.

“We do a notification whenever we have a serious crime, on or near campus, and if it’s reportable,” said Ralph Robinson, assistant police chief at UWPD.

Robinson said this includes all assaults and robberies.

Even though all of the crimes that occurred for the month of November occurred off campus, Robinson said that crime on campus this year has also been significantly higher than in years past.

“For each of the years of 2005, 2006 and 2007 we’ve had only two robberies on campus,” Robinson said. “In 2008 we’ve had eight so far on campus. We’re always concerned with crime on campus, but we’re also very concerned about crime in the general university area, because our people traverse both areas.”

The Seattle Police Department said they are aware of the problems around campus.

“We work closely with UWPD, and we work in concert with them whenever there’s a problem in U-District,” said a spokesperson for the North Precinct of the Seattle Police Department (SPD). “We’re definitely aware of some of the issues and problems in that area.”

Crimes typically increase this time of year because so many people are out and about shopping for the holidays, she said. This makes for more crimes of opportunity.

“We are in tough economic times, and in most cases the university is seen as a lucrative opportunity, and unfortunately, in many cases students can provide that opportunity to criminals,” Robinson said. “We’ve had a couple incidents in midday, which basically tells you that there’s opportunity and that people are very bold.”

The UWPD only has jurisdiction over crimes that happen on campus, and while they can provide transport to students within a mile of campus with the Husky Nightwalk, patrols and prevention on the Ave and north of campus falls to the Seattle PD.

“We have resources devoted to that area and are using emphasis patrols to try to deter crime,” the SPD spokesperson said.

With nightfall coming earlier each night and weather worsening for the season, the Husky Nightwalk has already seen an increased ridership in their program, but Robinson also said ridership has been spiking in the days immediately after timely notifications have been sent out.

Junior Jack Harbert, who works on campus and has to walk home after nightfall, says he’s aware of the dangers, but isn’t particularly concerned about his safety.

“I’m not like super scared, but I don’t wear my iPod and I try to keep my eyes more open and stay more alert to what’s happening around me,” Harbert said.

Senior Victoria McArdle also commutes to and from campus late at night and works for the Heart and Muscle Mechanics lab in the Aerospace building. McArdle usually bikes or drives for her commute and says she would not be comfortable walking.

“It’s too difficult to see people approaching and it would be easy for people to jump out from dark places,” McArdle said. “Plus, I think I’m an easy target.”

Both McArdle and Harbert say they would like to see more of a police presence late at night.

“I don’t see very many police cars patrolling at those times late at night,” McArdle said, “I feel like if there’s a criminal, a police car would deter them. Whether in a car or on foot, seeing more policemen out would be good.”

Both Robinson and the spokesperson for the SPD say the most important issue is making sure students stay out of areas and situations where they may be vulnerable.

Reach reporter Casey Smith at news@dailyuw.com.