Dangerous Ithaca

Here is a message I received a few days ago in my email:

Campus Crime Alert
Oct. 13, 2006

The Ithaca Police Department is investigating a strong arm robbery that occurred on October 10, 2006, at approximately 9:30 p.m. in the 500 block of E. Buffalo St. The victim, a Cornell student, was walking on E. Buffalo St. when she was approached by a male subject. The subject knocked her purse from her hand, picked up the purse from the ground and fled west down the Buffalo St. hill. The subject was described as a male, 5 foot, 6 inches tall, medium to heavy set build, wearing a dark-colored, hooded jacket.

Students and others are reminded to be aware of their surroundings and to walk in well lit areas.
Contact the Blue Light Escort Service at 255-7373 to arrange for walking escorts around campus.

Report suspicious persons on campus to the Cornell Police at 255-1111 or, off campus, to the Ithaca Police Department at 272-3245, or dial 911 in the case of an emergency.

This is the first time I heard of crime in this town. And as it happened (well, almost), they actually sent an alert to the entire campus! I find this amusing. And yes, the university police offers escort services for those who afraid walking alone in dark. Well, after all there was a "strong arm robbery"… first one in two months.

What a dangerous place this world…