Campus car crime on the rise
Savitri Luchar
Issue date: 1/29/10 Section: News
As if trying to find a parking spot wasn't difficult enough, add the worry of someone breaking into your car. The reported cases of stolen vehicles and break-ins in the vicinity has increased since the beginning of the winter quarter.
Since the beginning of winter quarter there are three thefts from vehicle, one stolen vehicle and one recovered vehicle from the campus vicinity only," said Benjamin Thompson, campus security officer in an e-mail. "We get more lists in the stolen vehicle report for the Dec-Jan period compared to the Oct-Nov period," said Marc Tolle, campus security lieutenant.
The most important thing to remember is to never leave your valuables in your car. Do so and you're easy prey for perpetrators who might not even have planned to do a crime, but see something they want in the car. According to Tolle, purses, laptops and GPS are the main temptations for the auto-theives although they will surely take anything their hands can handle.
"Remember please don't leave valuables in your vehicle, always lock your car and take your keys and use an anti-theft device," said Tolle. "No matter whether it's at daytime or nighttime, in a crowded or vacant area, you are at risk anytime if there are any valuable items visible in your car" said Tolle.
"I was at my friend's apartment in North Everett close to the college when my car got broken into. The thief stole my GPS, an MP3 player, an AC adapter and my backpack with my textbooks and bible in it" said Joseph Dyer, a student whose car was broken into.
"I would recommend keeping valuables or personal items in the trunk or with you when you leave the vehicle. I have my address in my bible, I'm just hoping the guy will read it and possibly bring my stuff back," Dyer said.
"There is no recourse from the college for students whose car had been stolen or broken into whether they park on campus or off campus" said Tolle.
"It scares me to think that someone could blindly steal your items, not knowing that those items have sentimental values that are very dear and irreplaceable to you," said Mayu Inose, an international student in Everett Community College.
"The best thing you can do if you're witnessing your car being broken into is to call 911 instantly, or if you just found it too late, call school's security because the police might consider it a cold case with lesser priority and it'll be faster since we're closer," said Tolle.
Do not ever try to confront the perpetrators by yourself because they are very unpredictable and dangerous. Many times they don't work alone although they may appear to be. What you can do is to take a good description of the person and report immediately.
Perpetrators can be anybody; students, neighbors or random people who pass by, take what they want and leave. "So if you see any suspicious person in or around the campus area, give the Campus Security a call," said Tolle.
The Campus Security office can be contacted at 425-388-9998. Everett Police can be contacted at 911.
Since the beginning of winter quarter there are three thefts from vehicle, one stolen vehicle and one recovered vehicle from the campus vicinity only," said Benjamin Thompson, campus security officer in an e-mail. "We get more lists in the stolen vehicle report for the Dec-Jan period compared to the Oct-Nov period," said Marc Tolle, campus security lieutenant.
The most important thing to remember is to never leave your valuables in your car. Do so and you're easy prey for perpetrators who might not even have planned to do a crime, but see something they want in the car. According to Tolle, purses, laptops and GPS are the main temptations for the auto-theives although they will surely take anything their hands can handle.
"Remember please don't leave valuables in your vehicle, always lock your car and take your keys and use an anti-theft device," said Tolle. "No matter whether it's at daytime or nighttime, in a crowded or vacant area, you are at risk anytime if there are any valuable items visible in your car" said Tolle.
"I was at my friend's apartment in North Everett close to the college when my car got broken into. The thief stole my GPS, an MP3 player, an AC adapter and my backpack with my textbooks and bible in it" said Joseph Dyer, a student whose car was broken into.
"I would recommend keeping valuables or personal items in the trunk or with you when you leave the vehicle. I have my address in my bible, I'm just hoping the guy will read it and possibly bring my stuff back," Dyer said.
"There is no recourse from the college for students whose car had been stolen or broken into whether they park on campus or off campus" said Tolle.
"It scares me to think that someone could blindly steal your items, not knowing that those items have sentimental values that are very dear and irreplaceable to you," said Mayu Inose, an international student in Everett Community College.
"The best thing you can do if you're witnessing your car being broken into is to call 911 instantly, or if you just found it too late, call school's security because the police might consider it a cold case with lesser priority and it'll be faster since we're closer," said Tolle.
Do not ever try to confront the perpetrators by yourself because they are very unpredictable and dangerous. Many times they don't work alone although they may appear to be. What you can do is to take a good description of the person and report immediately.
Perpetrators can be anybody; students, neighbors or random people who pass by, take what they want and leave. "So if you see any suspicious person in or around the campus area, give the Campus Security a call," said Tolle.
The Campus Security office can be contacted at 425-388-9998. Everett Police can be contacted at 911.
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