UTM experienced a significant reduction in incidences of larceny, theft and vandalism over 2003, even though this year’s Crime on Campus report from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation reports an increase of reported incidents of liquor law violations and narcotic incidents at UTM.

The report released last Thursday releases campus crime information for 2004 for every private and public higher education institution in Tennessee.

Even though UTM’s campus population increased by more than 1,200, Public Safety reported 33 theft or larceny offenses during 2004, down by 40 from 2003, a decrease of more than half. Vandalism or destruction of property incidents were also down to 38 in 2004 from 51 the previous year.

2004 also brought fewer assault violations than 2003; in 2004, there were 13 assault offenses, compared to 17 in 2003. Of the 13 offenses, two were aggravated assault.

There were also six fewer disorderly conduct incidents in 2004, down from 11 the previous year.

Public Safety reported 11 narcotics or drugs violations on campus in 2004, which nearly triples 2003’s four incidents.

Additionally, the report shows a more than 15-fold increase in liquor law violations. There were only three reported liquor law violations in 2003. However, the Department of Public Safety says the increase is a “reporting anomaly,” since in the past, alcohol incidents that were referred to Student Affairs were not reported.

There was one reported weapons law violation on campus last year. Decreases in crime incidents amplified the decrease in crime rate because of last year’s enrollment increase.

Public Safety Director Richard Hatler attributes the decrease to increase in the quality of UTM students and more effective crime awareness.

“UTM is traditionally a very safe campus,” Hatler said. “We’re usually below the other large institutions in the state.”

Hatler said, “We think we have good students here with good values in abiding the law. We like to think the decreases we’ve seen [over the past years] are because the campus community is being more crime smart.”

Hatler added that interaction with other law enforcement agencies and education programs contributed to the reduction.

The TBI reported a statewide 490-incident increase in campus crime over 2003; the TBI claims 8,684 incidents occurred in 2004.