Like bugs, crime finds its steady footing cloaked in the security of night.

Within the past month, two major instances have brought heightened attention to crime on campus.

The robbery of a student at an ATM at 2:00 a.m. and a car robbery involving gunshots caused people to question their safety on campus.

Sen. Sara Yasin, a sophomore in textile and apparel management, said she heard concerns of safety voiced by her constituents and reacted dutifully.

Yasin wrote the Nightly Patrol Act, which is an act established to promote awareness of security and requested greater visibility of police on campus.

“A student should be able to walk from the dorm to the library because he is a student,” Yasin said. “I saw a lot of students concerned about safety and people feel more confident if policemen or a police car is more visible.”

By adopting this bill, the Senate is throwing out a suggestion to Campus Police and reacting to real life issues that are affecting students said James Wally, secondary sponsor of the bill.

“We, in no way, are saying the police aren’t doing their job, they’re doing a terrific job,” Wally, a freshman in civil engineering, said. “We are just encouraging campus police to have more visibility.”

Although lighting for students out and about at night has been addressed, Sgt. Jon Barnwell, a Campus Police officer, said most of the increased crime on campus is larceny.

“Most crime is crime of opportunity,” said Barnwell, pointing to the increase in crime at the University.

According to the Raleigh Police Department statistics — larceny, the taking of property without consent and with the intention of permanently depriving the owner of the property, has risen since last year.

Compared to other college campuses, N.C. State’s crime rate is not among the worst. Duke University reported 27 burglaries in 2004, which was a decrease from 56 in 2002. UNC-Chapel Hill has also had a decrease in larceny and burglary in the past two years.

“The biggest thing we can do is make smart decisions,” Yasin said.

Caroline Smith, a freshman in first year college, said she travels in groups, takes lit paths and keeps pepper spray handy.

“When I walk in the dark I use common sense and stay alert,” Smith said.

Overall, the total crime reported at the University has gone down since 2002 — indicating a gradual decrease in the number of campus crimes.