Crimes reported in calendar year 2009 on property owned or controlled by the University of California, Davis, decreased in most categories compared with the year before, according to statistics prepared in compliance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act.

"UC Davis continues to be a relatively safe campus," said UC Davis Police Chief Annette Spicuzza. "But everyone should be aware that there are simple steps you can take to prevent crime -- be aware of your surroundings, secure your possessions and valuables, and make use of the services available through the Police Department and the Campus Violence Prevention Program."

Burglaries fell from 128 in 2008 to 84, and forcible sex offenses from 27 to 18. Motor vehicle thefts fell from 27 to 17; robberies from nine to seven; aggravated assaults were steady at nine.

Incidents of arson increased from one in 2008 to eight in 2009: Most were minor incidents such as fires in garbage cans. One non-forcible sex offense was recorded in 2009; 2008 saw none.

There were no reports of criminal homicide (murder and non-negligent manslaughter) or negligent manslaughter.

The number of drug arrests decreased from 70 in 2008 to 50 in 2009, and liquor arrests declined from 19 to 15. Drug disciplinary actions rose from 35 to 68, with most related to marijuana use, while liquor disciplinary actions fell from 220 to 193.

Most of the drug arrests took place at off-campus locations, while drug disciplinary actions were mostly on campus. (A drug disciplinary action might occur when there was evidence of drug use, such as a smell of marijuana in a residence hall room, but not enough evidence to make an arrest.)

Two hate crimes were reported in 2009. In one, a suspect threatened a student in writing and drew swastikas on a whiteboard. In the other, a poster of Barack Obama was defaced with devil horns and the letters "KKK." One hate crime was reported in 2008 (the range of crimes reportable as hate crimes under the Clery Act was expanded for the 2009 reporting year).

This report does not include a series of incidents in February and March 2010, in which swastikas were carved or sprayed at various locations around campus and the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center was defaced. Those incidents will be included in the Clery Act report for 2010, due in fall 2011.

The Clery Act requires colleges and universities to collect statistics for specified crimes reported at defined locations on and adjacent to their campuses, off-campus properties owned or controlled by the campus, and the properties of registered student organizations. The UC Davis statistics include reports taken by UC Davis police both on the Davis campus and at the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, as well as by police agencies that have jurisdiction adjacent to the campus and other university properties.

The numbers also include statistics for crimes that are not reported to police but are disclosed in confidence, for example, to victims' advocates for the Campus Violence Prevention Program. No confidential information that would identify the victim is used in compiling the report.

Universities and colleges must report these statistics, and information on their campus security policies, to the U.S. Department of Education each fall and also make the information available to current and prospective students and employees.

At this time last year, an internal review found that the former director of the Campus Violence Prevention Program, Jennifer Beeman, had inflated the number of forcible sex offenses in the reports for 2005, 2006 and 2007. These statistics were corrected last year, in the Clery Act Report that contained statistics for calendar years 2006, 2007 and 2008. Beeman was also found to have misused funds from a federal grant, and reimbursed the university $1,372. A criminal investigation is still in progress.

In compiling this year's report, a campus panel reviewed the statistics collected by the Campus Violence Prevention Program to ensure accuracy. The panel included a uniformed officer of the UC Davis Police Department, a Clery Act specialist from the UC Davis Office of Student Judicial Affairs, and an attorney from the UC Davis Office of Campus Counsel.