The raindrops that fell on the 24th Annual Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts yesterday reduced not only the number of festival-goers, but also the number of potential thieves.

"I don't think the bad guys come out in this weather," said Cheryl Koellhoffer of Buffalo, N.Y., who is operating a wicker basket stand.

The State College Bureau of Police Services does not blame just the weather for low crime rates at the Arts Festival, however.

"Members of the community plan and work this event," State College police Lt. Carmine W. Prestia said. "They want to make sure that everything goes smoothly."

The result of the extensive planning is a very low crime rate at the Arts Festival. Traffic tie-ups and parties tend to dominate police activities during the weekend, Prestia said.

As part of the plan to make the festival run smoothly, police have increased the number of foot patrols. No new officers or special details have been called in, but officers already in the department work overtime, he said.

"These people have a lot of time and effort invested in this stuff," Prestia said.

That makes many exhibitors comfortable.

"Weather is the big thing to worry about at art festivals more than theft," Koellhoffer said.

Despite increased police activity during Arts Festival, Prestia said there are typically some thefts and other criminal activity as the weekend winds down. But Prestia said he doesn't recall any major crimes at past festivals.