CREDIT: PRATHAAN
After a number of incidents in only a matter of days on Thurman Circle, the London Police Service (LPS) is advising student to consider their safety and the safety of others, when hosting or attending neighbourhood parties.

Students living on and around Thurman Circle are advised to be more vigilant and responsible by the London Police Service (LPS) and Fanshawe's campus security services, following a series of criminal activities taking place in the area within the past two weeks.

Two major incidents involving student partying occurred between Aug. 26 and Sept. 3, leading to the seizure of firearms and later on, damage to a police vehicle.

Police responded to a call early morning of Aug. 26 after two occupants were assaulted by several uninvited guests at a large student party. Personal items had been stolen from the premises.

A total of three firearms were confiscated from the seven young men who are now facing charges.

The robbery suspects initially ran in various directions in an attempt to evade police. Three entered a stranger's home on Fleming Drive where they were arrested shortly after by officers.

Two more suspects were arrested, with the assistance of Fanshawe campus security, in a nearby park. Two others tried to escape by entering a taxi cab, but were later caught.

The incident is a grim reminder for students to carefully monitor who enters their home during parties.

“Ensure that you are only letting people into your home that you know. Don't ever advertise your parties on social media because then you don't know who's going to be attending,” Const. Sandasha Bough, of the LPS, said.

Bough said she encourages residents to call the police as soon as they see something suspicious, and to always get a thorough description.

John Berthelot is a first year Fanshawe business marketing student who moved into the neighbourhood in June. He stepped out of his home to observe the noise of the arrests taking place near his house on the night of the 26th.

He said he came to Fanshawe expecting parties to take place. Although he thinks the robbery could have happened anywhere, he said the event has caused residents to be on guard.

“It really did open the eyes to the neighbourhood. People are mounting up their defenses. They're locking their doors at night,” Berthelot said.

Berthelot went on to add that he hopes the public would avoid judging the area based solely off the incident.

Christian Trimble is another newcomer to the area. A few days into settling in, his roommate's bedroom window was smashed during an attempted break-in one night at around 3 a.m.

While he said that he and his roommate are shaken, Trimble has no intention of leaving a location that he said is most conducive for his studies. With permission from his landlord, he has taken extra security measures including reaching out to his neighbours for support and solidarity.

“Just make sure to keep safe and take the necessary safety precautions,” Trimble commented over a Facebook messenger conversation. “I used to think nothing like this would ever happen to me but it could happen to anyone.”

A week following the robbery at the large house party, police were called to Thurman Circle and Farnsborough Crescent shortly after midnight on Sept. 3.

This time, they were requested to disperse what the caller indicated was approximately a hundred people roaming the area throwing bottles onto the street.

Authorities arrived to find that number was closer to 500 as people poured out of various house parties. According to a media release from the LPS, some began to throw bottles at the police and the windshield of a police vehicle was damaged.

“It's definitely discouraging,” Bough said of the recent evening. “This was a dangerous situation not only for officers, but for everybody in the neighbourhood. In a situation where items are being thrown, people could have potentially been injured in this particular case.”

Four individuals were issued provincial offence notices for violation of the City of London's Nuisance By-Law, which can result in fines from $500 up to $10,000, a hefty consequence that Bough said students should take note of.

Ed Pimentel, manager of Fanshawe's campus security services, also pointed out that students should keep the College's code of conduct in mind before participating in unlawful behaviour, even when off school property.

“Under certain circumstances, where a student is involved in something serious in nature, the student code of conduct may be applicable. I would advise students to understand that and judge themselves accordingly. Students need to be aware of that,” Pimentel said.

In a worst case scenario the thrown bottles could have hit and injured someone, Supt. Chris Newton, head of London Police's Uniformed Division, said.

According to Newton, the students holding parties need to consider their own safety, and also that of the non-student populace living alongside them.

“There are people who work and live in that neighbourhood who have every right to do so in peace, and in safety. And this kind of behaviour puts everyone at risk,” Newton said.

In addition, the LPS announced in a Sept. 5 press release that there will be an increased police presence in neighbourhoods around Western University and Fanshawe College as part of their Project L.E.A.R.N. initiative. First launched in 2007, the initiative promotes Liquor Enforcement and Reduction of Noise.

The announcement mentioned that there will also be increased enforcement of by-laws related to parties, parking, open fires, noise, litter, and public urination in the city.

With these two incidents happening right at the beginning of the school year, Newton maintained that police understood the partying was only a small indication of student life in the city.

“We welcome students as members of the community, but as such we have an expectation and a standard of their behaviour,” he said. “It takes but a few to tarnish the reputation of the majority.”