The Oklahoma Daily

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THURSDAY JULY 2, 2009

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Norman sees increase in shoplifting Records show petty larceny citations in Norman steadily increased in June RICKY MARANON The Oklahoma Daily

Norman saw a spike in shoplifting citations in the month of June. According to data from the Norman Municipal Court, the number of petty larceny citations jumped in the month of June to 36 adult offenders compared to the months of April and May, which saw the number of shoplifters remain steady in the low 20s. “The City of Norman has a few hot spots for shoplifting,” Norman Municipal Court Clerk Ronda Guerrero said.

NORMAN PETTY LARCENY ARRESTS April

May

June 36

24

21

16

11

9

30

47

40

= Number of adult offenders

= Number of juvenile offenders

ILLUSTRATION BY LUKE ATKINSON

“Homelands and Wal-Mart Supercenters are the places where many petty larceny citations are given out, but we have given out a lot at the [Sooner] Mall too.” Guerrero said the number of shoplifters is more than what is given out in daily police press releases because those reports do not include juvenile offenders. When juvenile offenders are taken into account, the amount of shoplifting in Norman appears to steadily increase over the past three months from 30 citations in April to 47 citations in June. In some cases, the juveniles have helped offenders in the act of shoplifting. “I use to work in retail sales, and I saw people use their kids and their strollers to help sneak merchandise out,” said Joanna Owen, who was shopping with her daughter Tuesday at the Norman Sooner Fashion Mall. But security at the mall is more complicated than it appears. “Even though some businesses like the mall have their own security companies, Norman police handles all cases of shoplifting and petty larceny,” Cap. Leonard Judy of the Norman Police Department said. “In cases where people use juveniles to help them commit petty larceny, they could also be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.” Judy said minors who are caught shoplifting sometimes could be treated as adults depending on the circumstances of the incident. The penalty of shoplifting in Norman is a citation ranging from $50 to $750 for juvenile and adult offenders alike, but adults may also receive up to 60 days in jail in addition. Shoppers feel the effects of shoplifting go beyond the fact that crime is happening in a place where they and their families come to shop. “If people steal from the stores then that means that there will be a loss in revenue and prices will go up,” Owen said. She said all stores should place detectors by doors so shoplifters will set the alarm off when removing the unpaid merchandise.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ELI HULL/THE DAILY

“If we allow people to steal, then the mall will become a place where people will feel comfortable committing crime, and if that happens then people won’t want to come here with their families, let alone shop at night,” said Christin Clift, who was shopping at the Norman Sooner Fashion Mall Tuesday afternoon. “If we don’t increase the penalty for shoplifting and stealing continues, it will eventually ruin the experience of going out to shop.”

TORNADO PROMPTS NEW SAFETY PLACARDS Some summer residents say they never received specific tornado safety instructions KYLE WEST The Oklahoma Daily

OU’s Housing and Food Services is taking new steps to ensure occupants in the dorms are ready for the next round of severe weather following the June 12 tornado that hit Norman. Housing and Food has ordered new tornado safety placards to be placed in Couch Center because many of the 500 residents had little idea what to do June 12, said Jennifer Brewer, a camp counselor for the Oklahoma Institute for Diversity in Journalism and a recent OU public relations graduate. Even camp counselors, who are expected by Housing and Food to be in touch with all the safety procedures, were generally unaware of how to face the tornado warning, she said. The chaos that followed raises a very important question: Is OU truly prepared for a tornado? Brewer said she witnessed the participants’ panic during the tornado warning. Brewer said she was on the 11th floor when the warning was issued. Not knowing what to do, she said she went downstairs to ask the help desk, and was told to go the basement. She was able to shepherd most of the students on her floor into the basement and went back to the 11th floor to get the rest. When the tornado warning system came on, instructing residents to go the “designated area,” she said. “It doesn’t even say where the designated area is,” Brewer said. “The alarm blaring should have said the designated area was the elevator lobby.” When she returned with the second group downstairs, they were held up at the fifth floor due to a stairwell clogged with people trying to access the basement. The sirens were going off, and adding to the confusion was a football coach yelling for no girls to be on his floor. Brewer said eventually a resident adviser led them to the second floor stairwell, which is a designated safe zone. According to Brewer, part of the problem June 12 was a general lack of information. Brewer said she was never given any information on what to do in the case of a tornado. She said the only advice she had was printed on a single tornado safety procedure sign located in the basement. Lauren Royston, spokeswoman for

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JACOB VOGT / THE DAILY

A Severe Storm Refuge Area bulletin is posted on the wall in the basement of Couch Center. Dozens of posters similar to the one shown are on display in every floor of the dorms, displaying safe places to stay during severe weather. Housing and Food, said that all camp coun“We had to go off our natural instinct,” selors were given an information packet Bryce said. “Had that been a real tornado which told them what to do in the case of a [that struck campus], that’s really scary when tornado. you’re responsible for those kids. It was just “They get a packet detailing safety proce- chaotic. We didn’t get any guidance from the dures and are encouraged to read it,” Royston people who were supposed to be keeping it said. “We try to make sure camp counsel- under control.” ors distribute the Royston said safety information. Housing and Food Upon checking in, does everything it Total fatalities of tornadoes which passed through they also get staff can to make sure Cleveland County since 1875 numbers.” counselors receive But Brewer said safety information. DATE SCALE DEATHS she never received OU Summer Camp May 3, 1999 F5 36 any such packet. Coordinator Pam “I never received April 25, 1893 Sullivan said the F? 31 a packet or anything, March 28, 1924 university sends eF? 8 even after it hapmails to incoming Nov. 19, 1973 F3 5 pened,” Brewer said. camp supervisors F? 4 “Evidently it was June 9, 1937 and counselors with given to our supervi- April 30, 1949 attached packets deF? 3 sor, and I’m not even Sept. 14, 1957 tailing safety. F4 2 positive she got it. “The way we’ve F? 1 Definitely whenever May 16, 1910 always approached we checked in, they safety is that it’s evSOURCE: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE should have gone eryone’s responsiahead and given us bility,” Royston said. one of these things.” “We encourage that camp counselors share OIDJ Camp Counselor Megan Bryce also the information with all campers.” said she never received a packet. Royston said basement overcrowding

TOP TORNADO FATALITIES

© 2009 OU PUBLICATIONS BOARD

shouldn’t be an issue, and that one person is expected to fit for every two square feet of space. “Technically, the basement can hold a substantial number of individuals,” Royston said. According to a safety and security packet Housing and Food distributes to sponsors, coaches and chaperones who stay in the dorms in the summer, residents in Couch or Adams should take shelter in either the basement or central core of the buildings from floors two through six. The packet says residents in Walker should take shelter in the basement while construction is going on. Aaron Gleason, an intern meteorologist at the National Weather Center, said that he would not comment on Housing and Food’s current tornado safety policy, but said that in general with tornadoes, the lower one can get the better. But he also said that some tornadoes are so strong that one would definitely want to be in the basement. “In general the best place to be is away from windows and interior hallways,” Gleason said. “I know the dorms have basements which would be a safe place to be. You will be safe in a basement. But if that’s not possible, get as far interior as you can.” But to Brewer, based on the events of the June 12 tornado, the university isn’t prepared for the worst. “I freaked out,” Brewer said. “It scared me that I had the lives of 27 campers in my hands, and I was responsible for them.” Royston said it’s the responsibility of counselors and supervisors to make sure everyone understands safety procedure. “Safety is every single person’s responsibility, and we really just want to make sure everyone understands they are responsible for following the rules and doing their best,” Royston said. She also said a repeat of the June 12 chaos was unlikely to happen during the school year. According to its safety and security information packet, Housing and Food recommends residents take immediate shelter in the designated areas after a steady storm siren of three to five minutes, and that shelter space should be identified in advance. “During the academic year, it’s a completely different environment,” Royston said. “We have experienced students and available staff to make sure students have the information in a timely manner. During the academic year we have a full staff to make sure those procedures are adhered to. They receive that information in their first floor meeting.”

VOL. 94, NO. 164


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