Browsing for bargains

Photos by Kevin Fitzsimons Ann Hayes, a volunteer at the Buckeye Bargains Thrift Shop, shows Christmas cards to Melinda Robinson, a secretary in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, during the seventh annual Hidden Benefits Fair held Dec. 12 at French Field House. The event, sponsored by the University Staff Advisory Committee, attracted more than 1,700 Ohio State employees as 60 vendors set up shop to showcase the many services available to Ohio State staff and faculty. Those attending were also treated to free hot dogs, soda and cookies, as well as door prizes.

Dale Gnidovec and Lester Krueger battle with Dino Grabbers, a popular item sold at the annual Hidden Benefits Fair. Gnidovec is the collections manager and curator in the department of Geological Sciences. Krueger is in the department of psychology.

University joins Crime Stoppers network

Add crime prevention to the list of issues the University is addressing in its quest to improve the quality of life in the University District.

After nearly a year of planning by Ohio State students, Campus Partners, Community Crime Patrol and other campus-area organizations, a new University Area Crime Stoppers program is in place. Already in service is a telephone line for 24-hour anonymous tips concerning crimes committed on or near campus, while a Crime Stoppers Web site will be unveiled in January, said Eric Busch, assistant vice president for student affairs. Anyone with information about crimes in the University area is asked to call the new hotline at 247-TIPS (247-8477).

University Area Crime Stoppers is an affiliate of Central Ohio Crime Stoppers and is part of an international network of nonprofit crime stoppers organizations that offer cash rewards for anonymous tips leading to the arrest or indictment of crime suspects. The controlling board of University Area Crime Stoppers is composed of Ohio State students and representatives of the Community Crime Patrol, various Ohio State units, area business and property owners, and permanent residents. University Police and the Columbus Division of Police have assigned officers as liaisons to the board. While Central Ohio Crime Stoppers focuses on serious felonies, such as murder and armed robbery, University Area Crime Stoppers will focus on crimes that may not draw the attention of the central Ohio organization, but which affect the University community, such as assault, theft, burglary and arson.

"We will be looking at situations in which members of our campus community either are or could be victims of that crime," Busch said.

Campus Partners has served as a facilitator in the development of the University Area Crime Stoppers program.

"By itself it's not going to solve all of the public safety problems, but Crime Stoppers is one more piece of the puzzle to make the University area safer," said Steve Sterrett, community relations director for Campus Partners.

The controlling board will be selecting a designated crime three to four times each quarter that University or Columbus police have asked for help in solving. The board also will offer rewards at the discretion of the board for information that leads police to solve a series of crimes, such as the dumpster fires or car break-ins in the campus area, Sterrett said.

The upcoming University Area Crime Stoppers Web site will be linked to the University's Public Safety Web site (www.ps.ohio-state.edu/).

University Area Crime Stoppers takes calls from people with information about any crime on and off campus in the University area. Those with information about felony crimes in the wider Columbus community should call Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 645-TIPS (8477). Information leading to the arrest and indictment of a crime suspect could qualify the caller for a reward as determined by the University Area Crime Stoppers Board or by the Central Ohio Crime Stoppers Reward Committee.

Reward money comes from private individuals, businesses and foundations that see Crime Stoppers as an integral tool in the community's fight against crime. More details about Central Ohio Crime Stoppers are available by contacting rewards@stopcrime.org or visiting the Web at www.stopcrime.org.

University Area Crime Stoppers has issued its first designated crime, or Buckeye Crime Watch, to seek information on a person or persons who used a thick liquid substance or acid to etch graffiti into the glass windows of businesses, primarily along North High Street, at several locations from August through October. Sites included Urban Outfitters, 1782 N. High St.; Brenen's Cafe, 1864 N. High St.; Starbucks Coffee on South Third Street; and McDonald's, 1972 N. High St.

Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to call the University Area Crime Stoppers hotline. A reward of up to $500 is being offered for any information leading to an arrest or an indictment.

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