The USC Department of Public Safety (DPS) reported 246 motor vehicle thefts and 16 incidents of rape on campus in 2023 according to the 2024 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, a decrease from 2022′s figures.
The report provides a detailed overview of the measures the university has taken to keep students, faculty, staff and visitors safe, detailing DPS activities, campus police partnerships, community education programs, emergency response plans and crime prevention strategies. As mandated by the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the information in this report includes crime statistics from the past three years and information about safety resources available to members of the USC community.
Motor vehicle thefts are marginally down, with 268 reported in 2022 compared to 246 in 2023. The seemingly significant number of motor vehicle thefts in 2023 is somewhat misleading, DPS Assistant Chief David Carlisle said. The large number is because the California Vehicle Code defines an electric scooter as a “little motor,” and these scooters — which have grown increasingly popular in recent years — easily become a target of thefts, Carlisle said.
Still, motor vehicle thefts are a significant problem for students. To help keep numbers down, DPS supervisors and several officers patrol where students park the scooters, and will provide students with locks to secure their scooters properly, Carlisle said. If DPS officers find a scooter or bicycle unlocked and vulnerable, they will lock it and leave a note telling the student to visit DPS, where they will be asked to register their vehicle.
“Don’t leave them unlocked, park them in a proper rack,” Carlisle said. “Lock them with a good quality lock, and register them with DPS, and that’ll help.”
Another noteworthy number in the report is the 16 rapes reported on the UPC campus in 2023, 10 less than in 2022. Most of the incidents reported to DPS involved acquaintances, and in nearly every reported incident, alcohol was a factor, Carlisle said.
Carlisle emphasized the importance of safety measures such as going to social events in a group and designating a trusted chaperone for extra safety when leaving campus.
“We have a saying, ‘Trojans care for Trojans,’” Carlisle said.
The report is available online. Individuals may request a paper copy of the report by contacting Gabe Gates, associate vice president for Clery Act compliance and youth protection, by email at ggates@usc.edu.