Non-violent crime in first-year dormitories has "declined significantly" since the security key card system was installed last year, according to a University police study released Wednesday.

Larcenies in the 16 dormitories dropped from 35 in 1991-92 to 20 last year, and malicious destruction of property fell from seven incidents to three. The total number of service calls to the police, which range from lock-outs to assaults, declined 10 percent from 377 to 339.

Breaking and entering was the only category of crime which rose in the two year period, climbing from one incident to four.

Although police cannot draw definite conclusions from raw numbers so small, officials are attributing the decline in crime to the key card system, installed in all the dorms during the summer of 1992.

"There has been a substantial reduction in cases," said Sgt. Lawrence J. Fennelly, who is in charge of crime prevention. "The fact is that card access control had an affect on the environment of the dorms."

Police had high hopes about crime declining after a 1992 study showed break-ins fell in the three Union dorms after the electronic key card system was installed in them.

And Fennelly said a burglar caught stealing wallets at a boathouse last spring told police it has been much harder for him to rob dorms since the key cards were installed. "I don't want to give a false sense of security," Fennelly said. "But the cards are the only factor that changes in the environment. It's a good way to control security into the buildings."

Before the new system was installed, thieves used to steal keys from students to get into dormitories. One of the main advantages of the key card, Fennelly said, is that police can deactivate a lost card without having to replace all the locks in a dorm.

Director of Physical Resources Michael N. Lichten, who oversees the card installation and operation, said he thought of implementing the key card system about five years ago.

"We felt in the freshmen dorms the key control could definitely be improved," Lichten said. "There were too many master keys."

Other universities which have installed the electronic system since then include Yale, Duke, Princeton and Columbia. "You'd be hard pressed to go call a school in any urban area that is not getting into it," Lichten said.

Lichten said the system cost the University more than $100,000 to date.

Although he would not specify further cost figures, Lichten said the switch from key to card was well worth the money.

"Now we have a reporting system any time the door is not locked," Lichten said. "Just that added security makes it worth it."

Students interviewed this week said they are pleased with the system. "I feel safer from people who are walking by and trying to rip something off," Aaron Y. Mendel '97 said.

But first-years also cautioned that the system isn't perfect. "The smart criminal could get in anyway," Nina Mitchell '97 said.