TSC thefts are not outside norm, USU Police say
Theft and vandalism on campus has not seen a significant increase compared to past years, according to Lt. Shane Sessions of the Utah State University Police Department.
Last year, between Jan. 1 and March 1, there were 13 reported thefts. This year there has been 19 reported in the same period of time, which, Sessions said, wasn’t a significant increase.
“I think the reason this is getting attention is because of the number of items stolen recently,” Sessions said.
Recently, a plasma television, several computer monitors and some laptops were stolen from the Taggart Student Center.
“It was a costly burglary,” Sessions said. “But it is a problem because it happened, not because it is occurring everyday on campus.”
Sessions said part of the problem with these kinds of burglaries is figuring out how the criminals gained access to the building. He said officers patrolling the area at night on foot patrol try to make sure buildings are secure, but even if they are secure at one moment, Sessions said, doesn’t mean it will be secure the next.
Faculty and students enter buildings that have already been secured and don’t secure it completely when they leave, he said.
“The best thing, no matter what time day or night, is for students and faculty to try and secure the office or area they are in as they leave it,” Sessions said.
Sessions said the campus police try to do foot patrol as much as possible inside the buildings, but with about a hundred buildings on campus it a hard task. He said officers try to stop and talk with people on campus and remind them to secure their areas before they leave.
“We are reminding people to be proactive,” Sessions said.
Sessions said that vandalism is about the same, not really an increasing problem, but they are always worried when it happens.
“It’s part of what happens in society,” Sessions said. “It’s a cyclic thing. We haven’t had any reports for awhile and then we get a couple and people think it’s a problem.”
Sessions said although theft and vandalism are not a big problems, it gets expensive and most of the expense is placed on the victims. In 2004, there was $32,459 worth on property reported stolen to campus police. Only $3,513 worth was recovered.
“It’s a lot of property value for the victims,” Sessions said. “It adds up.”
-mikayliek@cc.usu.edu