News Release

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March 16, 2005

Boise State, Boise Area Crimestoppers Form Partnership On Campus

Boise State University and Boise Area Crime Stoppers have formed a new partnership to prevent crime and safeguard students, faculty and staff. During the next few weeks, informational posters, flyers and student publications will be distributed at various sites throughout campus in an effort to boost the reporting of crimes while protecting the identity of those offering information.

�Crime Stoppers will be another prevention effort on our part � another way to allow folks on campus to report suspicious circumstances, subjects or a crime they may see happening,� said Bob Seibolt, director of University Security and liaison with Boise police.

In 2003, nearly 30 burglaries were reported on the BSU campus, along with more than a dozen arrests for liquor law violations and several drug abuse violations. In addition, Student Conduct Program disciplinary referrals included more than 30 liquor law violations, several drug abuse violations and a couple of weapons possessions.

Jan Van Houten, Crime Prevention/Crime Stoppers program coordinator, hopes that people will be more likely to report a crime knowing their identity can be protected, particularity if the person they are reporting is an acquaintance or roommate. No caller ID or recorders are used, and each caller who reports a crime is issued a confidential code number. Crime Stoppers will route tips about campus crime directly to investigating officers at the BSU substation.

If the tip results in an arrest and charges are filed, the tipster may be eligible for a cash reward up to $1,000. In 2004, Boise Area Crime Stoppers received more than 1,800 calls throughout a four-county area. More than $65,000 has been paid in rewards since 1981. Crime Stoppers programs and rewards are totally funded by community donations and fund-raising activities.

Officer Lou Laskarris, one of six Boise City officers who serve at the BSU substation, said Crime Stoppers will play an important role on campus. �Police can not be effective without community involvement,� Laskarris said. �We are looking at nearly 18,000 students alone � that's a lot of eyes.�
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Contact: Bob Seibolt, Boise State University Security, (208) 426-3226, bseibolt@boisestate.edu

Media Contact: Frank Zang, University Relations, (208) 426-5391, frankzang@boisestate.edu

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Last reviewed on Thursday, December 22, 2005