The Cornell University Police Department and Ithaca Police Department will start jointly patrolling campus, Collegetown and other nearby areas, the University announced yesterday.

The joint patrols — usually reserved for large events like Orientation Week, Slope Day and Senior Week — are a response to a rash of crimes reported near Cornell’s campus.

“I think these things tend to travel in waves. You see ebbs and flows and I don’t see anything particularly alarming about the last wave,” CUPD Chief Kathy Zoner said.

Say goodbye to crime?: The Cornell Police patrol in Collegetown on Sept. 1. The University announced yesterday that CUPD and IPD will start joint patrols.

Members of the Cornell community receive crime alerts by e-mail as a result of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1998, which requires universities receiving federal financial aid to disclose safety and crime-related information.

Since October, the University has issued five crime alerts –– an attempted strong-arm robbery in Collegetown on Oct. 18, a female student accosted in Collegetown on Oct. 31, an attempted robbery in Collegetown on Nov. 1, an attempted robbery on the 300 block of Highland Road on Nov. 9 that included a stabbing, and an attempted strong-arm robbery in Collegetown on Nov. 17.

So far, there have been no updates on any of these reported incidents, according to Zoner.

The joint CUPD-IPD patrols were prompted by the fact that the crimes have occurred in close proximity to each other and have been relatively similar, Zoner said. The patrols will occur in addition to regularly scheduled police patrols.

“Joint patrols are one of those things that work well in the situations that have overflow [between jurisdictions],” Zoner said. “We’ve certainly done them before in the past,” she added.

“We’re always in contact with IPD regarding crimes in the area. Our investigative teams always work together whenever possible and share info,” Zoner said.

CUPD has also sent out more auxiliary teams to staff the Blue Light Escort Service, which can be reached via any of the Blue Light phones or (607) 255-7373. The service runs from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. while classes are in session. The auxiliary members will accompany community members and visitors to places on or near campus, as well as wait with them at a bus stop until a bus arrives.