The U Police Department has tightened security after 22 cars were broken into on campus in late November.
U Police said it’s possible that all the break-ins could have been by the same thieves because the car windows were similarly pried open until they shattered.
Of the 22 students who have reported car break-ins, 14 of them didn’t report any missing property from inside their car.
It’s unusual that the burglars would break the windows, yet leave all of the property untouched, said Scott Folsom, chief of police.
“Why would anyone go through the trouble if there’s nothing readily evident that’s worth stealing?” he said.
Folsom described the thefts as “fishing expeditions”8212;a criminal randomly breaking into vehicles to see what he or she can find.
Capt. Lynn Mitchell said last week the U Police do not have the resources to hold a stakeout at every parking lot. However, in order to catch the burglars, Folsom said he has directed patrol units to watch the parking lots more closely, particularly the locations that have had heavy concentrations of thefts, including the West Village apartments and Residence Halls.
“We can’t station an officer (at the lots), but we are making our patrols as frequent as we can,” said Sgt. Dennis North, head of campus security. Since two officers left the U Police, there are only four officers to patrol the entire campus during the graveyard shift, said Cpl. Doug Alkire.
Folsom said a passer-by who notices something suspicious and reports it to the police will likely be the person who stops the thieves.
Tyler Cobb