Yale PD Expands Presence With Regular Downtown Walking Beats, Patrols

NEW HAVEN, CT — Saturday, Yale police informed students it was taking steps to keep students safe after a number of "incidents," which include assaults and robberies.

"At Yale Public Safety, the primary responsibility is to enhance the safety of every member of the community, and this commitment is taken very seriously. In light of recent incidents on or around campus, several steps are being taken to address these concerns.

"The Yale Police Department is expanding its presence by assigning regular walking beats in the downtown area, focusing on times and locations identified by crime data," Yale public safety wrote in a LiveSafe message to the Yale community. "In addition, extra patrol units are being deployed to increase visibility in both the downtown and Prospect Street areas."

• In late August, police reported that "two BB gun assaults targeted Yale students." It was Aug. 25, a Sunday, at around 12:15 p.m. and again just before 12:30 p.m., in the area of Crown and High streets and Broadway and Elm Street, when "members of the Yale Community were walking in the area when projectiles were fired at them from possibly a dark-colored vehicle," police said, adding "no medical attention was requested," and that New Haven police are investigating.
• On Sept. 4, a grad student had his parked car broken into and was "pushed by an unknown masked man" who took items and fled.
• Around Sept. 5, Yale police noted that "teenagers operating motor vehicles in a reckless manner, posing a significant risk to public safety. In some cases, these individuals have engaged in dangerous behavior such as taunting other drivers, encircling their vehicles, or backing into them and then fleeing," adding, "there was an incident where a handgun was displayed." Yale police also noted that since April, "there has been a 151.8% increase in motor vehicle theft citywide ... and some vehicles used in the reckless driving and taunting incidents are stolen vehicles."
• On Sept. 11, there was an attempted burglary of a Yale undergraduate's home on High Street, where a man gained entry just after midnight. "The victim came out of a bedroom and confronted the offender," according to Yale Public Safety."The offender fled and headed south on High Street towards Crown Street." Police said nothing was taken from the home and no one was injured.
• On Sept. 21 and 22, two robberies and one attempted robbery of Yale students. On Saturday, Sept. 21 at around 11:15 p.m., a graduate student walking in the area of 1000 Chapel Street was "forcibly restrained by two masked males who took his wallet," according to Yale Police. No weapons were shown, and no "physical injuries" were reported, and the student "declined medical attention," police said. The two masked men fled on Chapel Street toward High Street, police noted.
• On Sept. 26, just before 7 p.m., in the 200-block of George Street, an "Uber Eats driver was approached by a group of five to six males," Yale public safety reported, noting that one of the males "brandished a knife, demanded the food, and then shoved the victim." No physical injuries were reported, and the "group fled on College Street toward Crown Street."
• On Oct. 2, just after midnight, in the area of Prospect Street, Benjamin Franklin College, a "student walking in the area was grabbed in the neck region by an unknown man. No words were exchanged, and no injuries were reported. The man fled on Prospect Street toward the Canal Line."

Yale police said they are working with city cops on a number of the incidents by keeping an eye on CCTV.

"The Detective Division is working closely with the New Haven Police Department to monitor surveillance cameras," Yale Public Safety noted. "This collaboration aims to swiftly identify suspects involved in incidents, file arrest warrants, and bring those responsible to justice."

In its alert to the Yale community, police said it's goal is to "ensure greater visibility," with increased patrols and, the hiring of more officers.

"Officers remain vigilant in addressing any concerns raised by the community. Maintaining a safe and secure campus is a shared responsibility," police noted in the LiveSafe message. "Community vigilance and following simple safety measures can help create an environment where everyone feels safe. You will continue to see Yale police and security officers maintain an elevated presence on campus."