NEW YORK – A recent study found a 21-percent increase in major crimes at New York City schools.

The Mayor’s Preliminary Management Report reveals 61 more major crimes of burglary, grand larceny, rape, robbery or felony assault reported between July and November of last year than were reported in the same time period a year earlier. Larceny shows a 65-percent increase, the highest amongst all major crimes. The number of sex offenses, burglaries, misdemeanor assaults, and trespassing crimes also increased.

School officials point to the proliferation of expensive electronic devices, such as mp3 players and cell phones, on school grounds contributing to the increases in larceny. Overcrowded classrooms is another point of contention in the discussion to make schools safer.

In a survey conducted by Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, only 23 percent of school administrators polled believe they receive adequate public funding to hire more security personnel and open up facility space. Those polled also overwhelmingly reported not enough teachers had received conflict resolution training.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg optimistically pointed out improved conditions at the nine most crime-ridden schools through his administration’s “Impact School” initiative. See this previous CS news report for more information on recent additions to the Impact program.

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