During the 2008-2009 Winter Break, security officers discovered six burglaries.

Since then, Security Assistant Director Steve Bequette said security modified the schedule so more security officers were on campus, and officers now have to get out of their vehicle and walk around buildings.

“(The revisions) are very good visibility tactics,” Bequette said.

He thinks it’s been a direct impact on thefts and burglaries, he said.

In the next two Winter Breaks, no thefts or burglaries were in the incident report.

“I remember being a detective and complaining, ‘Oh, USI is getting ready to come back, and we’re going to have a rash of burglaries,” Bequette said.

In the school years 08-09, 09-10 and 10-11, 261 thefts were reported to security. Out of the 261 thefts, 120 were in housing, or 45.9 percent. The rest of the thefts were spread across campus.

“Main reason things are missing out of apartment building or dorms, 1) not keeping doors locked 2) not paying attention who (students) are letting in their apartment/or roommates not keeping track of people they are letting in,” Bequette said.“ We have many, many cases where people don’t know if they left (their apartment doors) unlocked or if their roommate unlocked it.”

Around 46 is a normal percentage for housing thefts, and it was about steady, Bequette said.

Thefts are decreasing in housing. Forty-eight, 30 and 25 thefts were reported for the school years 2008-2009, 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 respectively.

But even with decreasing numbers, O’Daniel North tallied in with 35 percent of thefts in the apartments. O’Daniel North apartments line half the highway and the main drag by some trees.

Bequette said there are some blind spots by the highway.

“We are kinda rural, easier for opportunity,” Bequette said.

Out of the eight months students live on campus, the majority of thefts happened during October and April, about 33 percent.

An increase in activity and people around, leaving cars unlocked and leaving the door open are key reasons these months are more popular for thefts, Bequette said.

It is difficult to narrow down to a specific day of the week because people may not know if something is missing until they look for it, Bequette said.

But because Thursdays are sometimes party nights, Friday is a common day for people to make a report, Bequette said.

Every other week the security director and assistant director meet with housing and residence life director and assistant director to discuss what happens around on campus. The group talks about the possibility of cameras in the apartments’ parking lot, but budgetary concerns prohibits this right now, he said.

“They are a theft deterrent,” Housing and Residence Life Director Laurie Berry said regarding cameras.

Security tapes would need observed more, they would have to determine who monitors the cameras, and if the video is taped, how long do they store the tapes, Berry said.

“(Cameras) are a natural progression,” Berry said. “Campus is larger than before and more people keep coming.”

Sixty-five percent of the thefts in McDonald West, O’Daniel North and South happened to residents on the lower floor “A” of the apartment buildings. McDonald East is the older apartments and do not specify “A” or “B” floors.

The first floor is easier to go in and out of without gathering much notice, she said.

Berry looks at each case individually, she said.

“I read and look at patterns,” Berry said.

Housing and security take thefts very seriously and try to find out the culprit, she said.

“It doesn’t make sense for the thief to live in housing if they steal from neighbors,” Berry said.

USI is similar to a small town because it’s safe and students know their neighbors, Berry said.

“If something’s missing, report it,” Berry said.

During Winter Break, Nathan Hoffman’s bicycle was stolen.

The freshman social science major kept his bicycle on a bicycle rack with a lock, he said.

“I asked for a rack to put on our side of the building a couple times, but nothing came from it,” Hoffmann said.

He reported his missing bike to security, and they told him he probably would not get it back, he said.

“And I haven’t,” Hoffman said.

Several other bicycles were on the rack but only Hoffman’s bicycle was taken, he said.

“Mine was the nicest bike on the rack though,” he said.

Sophomore accounting major Donald McGrath said he does not find the number of thefts shocking. 

“Any type of theft is to be expected in a community especially one where everyone is packed together,” the Ruston Hall residence assistant said. 

Housing and Residence Life are looking into a 24-hour desk rotation in the dorms instead of the current 6 pm.-midnight and midnight to 3 .m. rotation, McGrath said.

Propping doors cause the majority of thefts and damages in the dorms, and Housing and Residence Life is also asking for more cameras in the hallways, McGrath said. 

Both housing and security try to prevent thefts from occuring, but they can only do so much, he said.

“But to a certain point if people are going to try and steal, they eventually will, and some will get away with it,” McGrath said. “That sadly is how life goes and security can only go so far. If the resident is following all of the housing rules, then their chances of something of theirs being stolen will be decreased dramatically.”

SIDE STORY

For the school years 2008-2009, 2009-2010 and 2010-2011, the Recreation, Fitness and Wellness Center (RFWC) and the University Center tied for the most overall total of thefts on campus with 19 thefts each.

Security Assistant Director Steve Bequette said the students are unaccountable for their personal items, especially in the RFWC.

“They don’t want to use the lockers in the locker rooms, and they’re so attached to their electronic devices. They can’t do without them for the hour they’re working out,” Bequette said. “They just throw them down on court side or cubicles or the floors.”

When “motive and opportunity” presents itself, someone can easily take those items, he said.

“We’ve taken steps and put cameras there, and that has cleared several cases,” Bequette said.

Freshman RFWC student worker Jordan Chambers said workers always give items they find to security or report thefts to security.

Freshman sports management major Courtney Hamilton said she has had two personal basketballs taken from the RFWC.

She went to the front desk and told the workers at the front desk, but they told her no one has brought any to the desk, she said.

To her knowledge, security was never called, she said.

SIDE BAR

THEFT- Unauthorized control of any person’s property.

ROBBERY- Threat of force

BURGARLY- Attempt to break in and commit another felony