Campus sees spike in robberies over holiday breaks
By Sean Greene
Dec. 13, 2009 9:01 p.m.
When first-year Brian De Silva got back to his dorm room after Thanksgiving weekend, his roommate’s Xbox 360, several controllers and 10 games were missing.
The blinds of De Silva’s room were closed, but the window was slightly ajar, and the screen was missing.
“When I saw the Xbox was missing, I didn’t want to assume the worst,” said De Silva, an undeclared student.
This incident is just one of five burglaries reported to UCPD after Thanksgiving weekend. Three were on the residential hill at De Neve, Courtside and Canyon Point residence halls, and two took place in off-campus residences.
During holiday weekends, or any campus closure, the campus is especially prone to burglaries, UCPD Sgt. Tracy Karafelas said.
“One of the things that make us such an attractive target is that there are fewer people to see the guy breaking into the apartment,” she said. “The holiday weekend is when we’re particularly vulnerable.”
Last year, there was only one reported burglary attempt during the Thanksgiving weekend. The suspect was arrested at the scene, and the crime was prevented. Karafelas attributes the cause of the crimes to the state of the economy. Some of the burglars have always been involved in crime, she said.
“You can imagine, in an economic downturn like the one we’re in, it’s hard to find a job,” Karafelas said. “And it’s even harder if you have a criminal history.”
The burglars often steal “easy grab” items, such as laptops, iPods and cameras, she said.
Karafelas advised students to take valuables home with them during winter break and not to leave anything visible in the windows that might be tempting to a burglar.
De Silva’s roommate, Jack Saver, a first-year business and economics student, said the burglar also removed $100 cash from his drawer and some change he had in addition to his Xbox.
Karafelas said many of the crimes are based on opportunity.
“It’s about ease, as much as anything,” Karafelas said. “It’s most common for them to enter ground floor windows that are left open and sliding glass doors. Occasionally you get a door force, but the vast majority are ground floor windows.”
Saver said the lock has been broken on their room window.
“I thought (the window) was locked, but I guess it wasn’t,” he said.
UCPD is well-aware of the spike in burglaries during campus closures. In response, the police increase high-visibility car, bike and foot patrols and implement other special programs to deter crime, Karafelas said.
“I think some (crimes) are prevented,” she said. “But we can’t be everywhere at once.”
Saver said he felt he was not warned of the risk of burglaries, but now there are fliers around the dorms instructing students to remove all valuables and install wooden dowels in their windows so they cannot be opened from the outside before they move out for winter break.
As for the stolen items, Saver said he might replace some of it over the break.
“I was going to wait until Christmas,” he said. “I’m not going to go out right now and buy a new one.”
He added that some of his games are not easily replaced.
“It was kind of a priceless collection of Xbox games,” he said.
