String of UTA thefts worries students

A recent surge in University Terrace Apartment thefts has left students questioning the safety of their belongings. In the past couple of months, six Apple laptops have been stolen out of rooms in the UTAs. With the latest theft occurring on Nov. 6, the victims of the thefts have been left without laptops as the end of the semester approaches. The safety of the residents in the UTAs is a concern too.

The Department of Public Safety has posted warnings in the UTAs for the residents in the area. The warnings state that "the university received reports of multiple burglaries that have occurred in the UTAs. Please take preventative measures to ensure the security of your belongings." Last week, resident assistants walked around the units and personally handed out and screwed on window locks in an effort to make students feel more safe.

"I think Public Safety really needs to step up its game and make sure these incidents don't happen again," said junior UTA resident Kirk Leopoldo.

The UTAs have patios that students use, but they can also be potential entryways for burglars. Carmen Chavez, junior UTA resident and victim of laptop theft, stated that she could see how burglars could get inside her home.

"My roommates like to leave our windows and doors on our patio open for fresh air," Chavez said.

Chavez reported to the DPS that her and her roommate's Apple laptops were stolen from her bedroom and the living room areas. Another one of her roommates had a PC laptop sitting in their bedroom as well, but it was not stolen.

"It was an invasion of my privacy, and the thieves are obviously only going for Macbooks," Chavez said.

On Nov. 9, when the UTA residents met with DPS, DPS introduced the idea of gating the area off to residents only, thus making it necessary to put in a code to get into the residential complex. Additionally, DPS reiterated the recommendation that residents lock windows and doors with the locks given by USD. As of now, the UTAs are being monitored by Elite security to keep an eye on who is coming in and out of the area.

"I've been more conscious of locking the doors and not leaving the lights on," said junior UTA resident Will Muldowney. "It's unnerving to know things like that have been going on frequently."

According to DPS, there are preventive measures that students all across campus can take on an individual level to keep their things safe. Students should make sure their doors are locked and their windows are closed upon leaving their residences. Students should also keep their valuables out of sight. Most importantly, students need to be aware of their surroundings and report any unusual behavior as soon as possible.

"Sadly it's a wake-up call for those who were careless with their security and have not had to worry about such issues because of prior living situations that were much safer," said senior UTA resident Alec Rynaski. "I know they lost their piece of mind but hopefully this will improve the community's awareness of suspicious activity around the area."