Spring Break
Car break-ins lead to increased police patrol
ALLEN KRONENBERGER
Issue date: 6/21/07 Section: News
Throughout the 2006-2007 school year, 110 car break-ins were reported to University police.
Most of the items reported stolen were CD players, iPods and laptops, said Tim Smith, a University police officer.
Smith also said these items are left in plain sight on a regular basis, and "10 to 15 percent of cars with items stolen are left unlocked."
Cars located in the railroad lot off of Thomas Street were more likely to be broken into. University police reported 20 break-ins in that area last year.
According to Smith, cars in this lot are susceptible to break-ins. He said this is because a significant number of people not affiliated with the University walk through the lot due to its location.
Days with increased on-campus traffic, such as football game days, are not a major time for car break-ins. During the 2006 home football games, 14 car break-ins were reported. Nine of these thefts were reported during the games against the University of Tennessee and Georgia Tech.
Smith said the risks associated with more people on campus were canceled out by the additional police officers on patrol. This combination makes the campus too crowded for burglars to break into a car without being noticed.
Instead, Smith said, Sunday and Monday nights are likely times for a break-in, because there are fewer people to spot the burglars.
Smith said that in the last four months there have only been five or six burglars arrested, but campus police have been participating in parking lot stakeouts in places like the railroad lot.
University police have also increased foot and bicycle patrol in those areas.
Most of the items reported stolen were CD players, iPods and laptops, said Tim Smith, a University police officer.
Smith also said these items are left in plain sight on a regular basis, and "10 to 15 percent of cars with items stolen are left unlocked."
Cars located in the railroad lot off of Thomas Street were more likely to be broken into. University police reported 20 break-ins in that area last year.
According to Smith, cars in this lot are susceptible to break-ins. He said this is because a significant number of people not affiliated with the University walk through the lot due to its location.
Days with increased on-campus traffic, such as football game days, are not a major time for car break-ins. During the 2006 home football games, 14 car break-ins were reported. Nine of these thefts were reported during the games against the University of Tennessee and Georgia Tech.
Smith said the risks associated with more people on campus were canceled out by the additional police officers on patrol. This combination makes the campus too crowded for burglars to break into a car without being noticed.
Instead, Smith said, Sunday and Monday nights are likely times for a break-in, because there are fewer people to spot the burglars.
Smith said that in the last four months there have only been five or six burglars arrested, but campus police have been participating in parking lot stakeouts in places like the railroad lot.
University police have also increased foot and bicycle patrol in those areas.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
big popi
posted 6/21/07 @ 8:09 AM EST
I am shocked by this information. I will strongly relate the dangers of not locking cars to all my children attending UGa.
Thank you for pointing out this danger. (Continued…)
Clay Kimbro
posted 6/21/07 @ 3:35 PM EST
I park in that railroad lot. Locking your doors have nothing to do with it.... they just break the front window out and grab whatever they can. The best thing to do is tell your students not to leave anything valuable in the car such as CDs, PDAs, Ipods, or any other electronics that can be easily grabbed. (Continued…)
Frank J
posted 6/22/07 @ 9:29 AM EST
Well well...look who's posting again. Clay Kimbro: the R&B's resident windbag. Thank you for the insight Clay; however, I believe you should be posting under the nom de guerre Captain Obvious. (Continued…)
al
posted 6/26/07 @ 1:54 PM EST
Damn, Frank. If you guys wanna settle this, at least you know what parking lot to find him in.
Frank J
posted 6/27/07 @ 11:40 AM EST
Al, I would meet Clay and knock the wind out of him. However, he's so full of wind that I would put him in a coma before I could knock all the wind out. (Continued…)
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