As students return to school and the semester begins, Binghamton Police Chief Joseph Zikuski encouraged those living in Downtown Binghamton, on the West Side or in other parts of the city to remember “common sense” safety precautions.

According to the Binghamton Police Department’s (BPD) website, a large percentage of incidents happen Downtown in densely populated areas near Court Street. However, in more heavily student-populated areas south of Main Street and along Floral Avenue, a different variety of crimes are reported.

In these areas, rates of reported theft from a motor vehicle were comparatively high in 2015. Additionally, a relatively high concentration of burglaries occurred on Main Street near Chapin and Murray Streets, which are both student neighborhoods.

“It’s no secret that there have been some crimes committed against students walking home,” Zikuski said. “Students should remember to keep their doors and possessions locked up well.”

Zikuski said that most crimes involving students occur on Friday and Saturday nights, and they usually involve alcohol.

“I remember a case last year, we got called for a student who was drunk north of Main Street on the West Side and had no idea where he was,” Zikuski said. “It turned out he lived on campus. You’ve got to be careful in unfamiliar areas.”

To stay safe, Zikuski said that students should travel in pairs or groups, especially at night, and should not walk around with their cell phones out and headphones in.

While Zikuski did not recommend avoiding particular neighborhoods, he stressed that students must keep their wits about them in unfamiliar places.

In order to address the constantly changing needs of the city, BPD instituted a community response team. This flexible team works directly under Zikuski to target high risk areas.

“Since they’re not assigned to a particular shift, we put them in areas where they are most needed,” Zikuski said. “We know students are moving in for the next two weeks so if all the sudden there are problems down on Chestnut or Leroy [streets], they’ll be there.”

The West Side Neighborhood Crime Watch is a local group also dedicated to promoting student safety. Organized by City Councilwoman Dani Cronce, the group recently established a spinoff student outreach board to increase dialogue between West Side residents, landlords and students.

“I would like for students to join as well,” Cronce said. “You are residents too.”

Students have mixed opinions about Downtown safety. Some do not feel that living in the city poses much risk, while others prefer to stay on campus.

“I haven’t seen any reason to be afraid,” said Kevin Liang, a senior majoring in mathematics who lives on the West Side. “It’s not like people are out here getting stabbed regularly. My neighborhood feels safe.”

Zikuski echoed this sentiment and further emphasized the need for a strong relationship between the University and community.

“The University is a great asset to the community,” Zikuski said. “So student safety is at the top of my list.”