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Students at the University of Houston are on edge following a spike in crime on campus. There have been multiple robberies and assaults in recent weeks. Notably, a student was sexually assaulted inside a parking garage.
That same parking garage was the site of another assault and robbery earlier in the week. There was also another assault and robbery at a Metro Rail platform on campus. You can see a full list of reported crimes on the UH campus here.
Retired HPD Captain Greg Fremin told KTRH that this is symptomatic of the area surrounding the main University of Houston campus. According to Fremin, "There's a criminal element that is deeply embedded, and has been for a long time. That's the population that's preying upon the campus, the students, and the surrounding area as well."
This isn't just some random spike, though. Fremin says this is part of a cycle that has led to crime on campus rising for some time. He explained that, "Criminals get out of jail, they get back in jail, and for one reason or another, they start engaging in more criminal activity in that area, and I think that's what we're seeing."
Fremin says that he believes U of H is stepping up. He said, "They're making everybody extremely aware of their surroundings, similar to what the Houston Police Department would do. When we start having spikes in crimes in certain areas, then you're going to make the residents, the students, more vigilant."
KTRH reached out to the University of Houston, but as of publishing, they have not responded to a request for comment.