After local firefighters recently battled both fire and vandalism at a downtown apartment building, local and University officials pinpoint a direct correlation between the progressive increase in criminal mischief and the slow erosion of community education and pride.

Since the State College Borough's "Put the Brakes on Vandalism" campaign in 1979, the crime rate here has risen each year, said David Caster, the borough's crime prevention specialist. The campaign stressed education at the high school and University level as well as business and community involvement, Caster said.

With the campaign long over, the community must unite and recognize the dangers of vandalism in order to combat the problem, Caster said.

"All people need to say is 'this is my community, be it for four years or a lifetime,'" he said.

Most community members fear a danger to people's lives.

During a recent fire in a third-floor apartment at Penn Tower, 255 E. Beaver Ave., students on the third floor ignored the fire alarm because they thought it was a prank.

Suzanne Sigmund, the general manager of A.W.&Sons Enterprises, a company that owns five apartment buildings downtown, reported her buildings often have five false alarms per weekend.

"I think every time the fire alarm goes off, the students are inclined to think it's a false alarm. Often people do not evacuate and you never know when it's a real fire," said Sigmund, who manages Garner Court, Cedarbrook, Beaver Hill, Alexander Court and the Graduate apartment buildings downtown.

Although the culprits are rarely caught, Sigmund said legal action will be taken if they are apprehended.

Friends visiting residents for parties are probably the vandals in most cases, said Patty Davidson, who manages Southgate and Executive House apartments.

"If we could determine who pulled the fire alarm, they would be prosecuted because it's against the law," she said.

Several other apartment buildings in the area, however, report less crime.

Southgate, the Executive House, Heritage Oaks and Briarwood remain intact because of less vandalism, said the State College buildings' managers.

"Compared to the downtown apartments, our vandalism is minimal," Davidson said. "False alarms probably happen two times per year. We don't have that much vandalism because we have an older student."

Defective fire equipment caused by vandals also hampered fighting Penn Tower's fire, State College Mayor Arnold Addison said.

"Apathy caused the problem," Caster said. "People could have actually died from the jerks (who destroyed the water system). That's how dangerous vandalism can be."

"The next time a water system doesn't work because of vandalism or residents refuse to respond to the directions given by fire service people, we could be mourning more than the loss of just property," Addison said.

Another problem associated with the increase in vandalism is the cost to the student as well as the rest of the community.

"In rental places, the only way for landlords to recoup their losses is to move the rent up. In the community, the people and customers pay for vandalism," he said.

Several area apartment managers agreed vandalism affects rental costs.

Addison said he considers breaking hallway lightbulbs, stealing fire extinguishers, damaging equipment, smashing windows and walking on cars as the most prevalent types of local crime.

"One type of vandalism that really angers me is the damage to our trees. People come out of bars drunk and break the branches. These trees are not cheap to replace," the mayor said.

Depending on the amount of damage, vandals may face harsh penalties. If a person tampers with fire equipment, for example, it is a misdemeanor. The convicted vandal would receive a criminal record, up to a year in prison and a $2,500 maximum fine, Caster said.

At the University, theft constitutes more than 33 percent of all crime incidents, said Bob McNichol, a University police supervisor.

"We're a large University so the statistics are high," he said. "Vandalism is a criminal mischief and the fine depends upon the action. The person will also make a restitution to the University for any damages."

Addison would like to integrate crime prevention education into the University orientation program in order to increase awareness.

"Five or six years ago, student leaders spoke about the costs of vandalism," he said. "Now the problem is that you have a new crop (of students) coming in every year ... The amount of vandalism is a good deal higher than it ought to be."