The number of burglaries at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa rose 52 percent last year from 2006, according to new data, but officials say they expect the situation to improve thanks to new measures to clamp down on crime.

Some 70 burglaries were reported on campus last year, including 17 in dorms, figures released this week show. The number is up from the year before, when 46 burglaries were reported — but lower than in 2005, when there were 73 burglaries on campus.

"The statistics show what is pretty much common knowledge — property crimes continue to be a concern," said Gregg Takayama, UH-Manoa spokes- man. "It's a constant effort to remind students to be careful about themselves and their belongings."

The increase in burglaries last year comes as the university is spending more on security for its flagship campus to address crime. In 2006, the university added eight new campus security guard positions, for a total of 41 officers at Manoa.

The campus also got an additional $2 million last year for security measures in dorms. And this year, officials started to shut down the Maile Way entrance to UH-Manoa at night in an effort to cut down on "crimes of opportunity," Takayama said.

Campus security Chief Neal Sakamoto said he is also looking at other ways to decrease crime on campus.

His latest effort has been to increase officer patrols during the day and night, at least in part in response to two recent armed robberies near campus.

The most recent case occurred in mid-September, when two men were robbed at gunpoint at 9:35 p.m. at Kanewai Park, 2695 Dole St. According to authorities, a male suspect displayed an "Uzi"-type weapon.

Also last month, a second robbery happened around 12:30 a.m. on Dole Street near Whitney Street, when a male victim was confronted while walking past a man standing under a tree. The suspect gave the impression he had a gun tucked in his waistband under a shirt, and the victim was robbed of cash.

Sakamoto said of the increase in patrols, "We're trying to be out there and be more visible."

Jaime Sohn, president of the Associated Students of the UH, said he believes the university is taking the right steps to make the Manoa campus safer. "In comparison with the other universities, the University of Hawai'i has a pretty low crime rate," Sohn said.

"Obviously, there's always room for improvement. But we're doing the best we can."

Meanwhile, other crimes on UH-Manoa also saw small increases last year.

There were six aggravated assaults on the campus in 2006, compared to four the year before. And three sex offenses were reported on campus last year — up from two each in 2005 and 2004. The figures also showed 10 sex offenses against UH students and staff off campus. In previous years, the off-campus sex offenses had not been reported.

Two robberies were reported on campus last year, compared with six in 2005.