The Saint

Story by News Editor Zoebelle Bean

 

           Car break-ins have become more frequent this year as perpetrators break through Aquinas College’s parking lot defenses. Taking advantage of the open campus and easily accessible Robinson Road parking lot, several young people have damaged the windows of cars on a breaking-and-entering spree.

           The affected parking lots include the Plymouth Lot, located next to the Circle Theatre off of Robinson Road, as well as the Browne Lot on Woodward Lane. The first auto-theft was reported by the AQ C.A.R.E.S app on September 27^th, with two additional reports since then, the most recent being October 31^st. For a little over a month, these burglars have broken the windows of cars to access personal belongings.

According to an article published by FOX17 West Michigan News, “the Kent County Sheriff’s Office says Aquinas College Security called 911 on October 31 to report five suspects spotted stealing from cars.”

Campus safety describes these incidents as crimes of opportunity. These thieves are looking for easily accessible valuable items and take as many opportunities as they get. Leaving your car unlocked, storing your items in a place where outsiders can easily see them, or placing money out in the open are all enticing to a thief.

Image Courtesy of WOODTV8

           In one recent episode, campus safety described in a statement how they watched the criminals arrive in a group and begin to go after parked cars. After watching it unfold, they have advised Plymouth and Browne Lot residents to seek alternative parking.

Similar events transpired last year, with the Hruby Lot being the source of the activity. This time last year, students who had parked in the lot off of Fulton Street were being robbed. This isn’t the first time students have been victimized by car thieves.

           According to WOODTV8, the Plymouth Lot currently only has one operating camera to surveille a parking lot the size of a football field.

           One solution to this problem would be to install new cameras in affected lots, as well as find suitable back-up options for people who have already had their cars broken into. Reimbursement as well as enough bags and window patches to provide to victims would help to ease the stress of losing a car window.

           In the meantime, the Grace Hauenstein Library parking lot and the Donnelly Event parking lot have been offered as places to seek shelter as campus safety works with the local police to determine further action that can be taken.