Bus center sees crime reduction

In recent years, the Bus Transfer Center (BTC) has been arguably the most crime-ridden area at Contra Costa College.

Police Services and the college’s recent efforts for reducing criminal activity at the BTC, however, have been successful since the installation of a monitored surveillance system.

Installed on March 30, the new camera system and more frequent police patrol has dropped the number of reported serious crimes at the center from 11 incidents in 2011 to just one thus far in 2012.

“Since the cameras have been installed we have had no robberies at the Bus Transfer Center,” Police Services Lt. Jose Oliveira said. “We have taken a three-pronged approach to combat crime — increased police patrol, the installation of the gate and also the cameras.”

On Sept. 4, there was a physical altercation between a man and a woman at the BTC.

When their statements conflicted as to who was the aggressor, Police Services was able to confirm the woman’s statement, leading to the male’s arrest.

Tel-Tec Security Systems installed the four cameras for $13,347.

Buildings and Grounds Manager Bruce King said the BTC cameras operate from the same hard-drive as the camera system in the Student Services Center instead of having a separate hard-drive installed.

Although criminal activity is down on campus, King said there are still crimes that happen within close proximities of the campus.

“We have pushed the crime off campus and that’s good,” he said. “We all want to feel safe. It is scary sitting out there at night. The cameras make people feel a little better.”

CCC students who catch the bus to and from school have also noticed the difference in safety recently.

Health and human services major Goldie Webb, a returning student, she said there were always incidents at the BTC and along Mission Bell Drive in the past.

“When I was here in 2009, there were a lot of people getting robbed,” she said.

In 2009 she took night classes, however, she is taking classes during the day this year because of the dangerous past of the transfer center.

AC Transit bus driver Davis Vaughns said Police Services’ three pronged approach changed the atmosphere at the BTC.

 “College police have done a good job and they do not take any junk,” he said. “Nobody hangs around here anymore unless they are students. The transients do not hang here anymore. (The police) will not allow that.”