Over the past two weeks there has been a severe increase in burglary activity in the West University and South Hills areas near campus. After 13 burglaries in two weeks, the Eugene Police Department has insisted on increased theft awareness to prevent the criminal activity.
“The typical method of burglars is that unfortunately people have been leaving garage doors, windows and even front doors open and unlocked, making it easily accessible for burglars,” Criminal Prevention Specialist Steven Chambers, criminal prevention specialist for the EPD said. “People will go inside for five minutes, and a thief will come in, grab their bike and leave.”
Burglaries in the West University area have typically occurred between the hours of 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. In the South Hills, the burglaries have been between the hours of 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. or 1 p.m.
“What we’ve also been seeing is the suspects are typically walking around the neighborhood, knocking on windows or doors, and if no one answers then they’ll go around the back side of the house, they’ll look for an easy entry,” Chambers said. “If not, they’ll force entry through a glass door or private door open.”
University junior Yvonne Leung lives in the West University area and has noticed behavior that might be harmful to prevention of these thefts.
“The thing that scares me about my building is that people always try to be nice and let random people in, or like sometimes just let me in even though they’re people I don’t know,” Leung said. “If they do that to me, then they might do that to other people who don’t live here.”
The problem is, that many students do not even know this is going on.
“I read the emails the school sent out, and I’ve heard friends talking. That’s about it. I live on 19th and Harris, so it wasn’t that far from us. There were a few about 2-3 blocks away, so that was kind scary,” Leung said.
It is suspected that these people are watching the neighborhood, either in cars or on the street, waiting for residents to leave their home or apartments. The target items being taken are things that typically are out in the open, left out counters or tables.
“The majority seem to be laptops that have been left out, iPods, jewelry, wallets and small stuff that can be grabbed and stuff in their backpacks.” Chambers said. Most of these thefts are likely to have occurred in about 30 seconds to a few minutes.
It is helpful for the police to look around neighborhoods and watch for suspicious behavior.
“Suspects that are being reported in the area and are seen even leaving the area, males, sometimes females in their mid-twenties, which makes it even more difficult to identify,” Chambers said. “But if people just take the time, you can get the feel that someone is up to no good.”
Leung, a frequent visitor of the library late at night, is not sure what she can to do protect herself.
“I mean, obviously I haven’t been walking home by myself. I haven’t been doing that,” Leung said “I’ve been making sure my doors and windows are locked. Other than that, I don’t know what other actions can be taken to prevent them.”
The police suggests calling in if someone suspicious is in the neighborhood. Talk with neighbors and come up with as detailed of a description as possible including a license plate if they are in a car.
“We are hoping people see this as ‘how can we prevent it?’” Chambers said. “Our biggest points are report people and be as specific as possible — and lock your doors and windows.”
Once reported, the police will drive through and pick up any suspects in the neighborhood.
“It’s really helpful for us, and it’s likely going to deter the suspect if they see police in the area or just stop them completely,” Chamber said.
If you see any suspicious behavior, please call the Eugene Police Department. Click here for information on theft and shoplifting classes
