CARA VAN METER
Assistant Art Editor
More than 60 thefts have been reported so far in 2006, and more than half of those classified as burglaries. Pepperdine’s Malibu campus has seen a sharp rise in the number of burglaries since 2005.
According to the official Public Safety statistics report for 2005 published online, there were only 19 burglaries that took place on campus. Now, with three months left before the end of 2006, that number, according to weekly DPS reports has already increased by more than 50 percent.
The incidents of theft range from food stolen from public areas to university laptops taken from locked offices. Nearly one-third of the items stolen in all campus thefts were computers or other major electronic items, and 40 percent of all the burglaries that took place involved computers and electronics.
Deputy Director of Public Safety Robert McKelvy declined to provide specific information on any policy changes that may have been made by DPS to combat the problem. However, he said whenever a crime occurs, department officials consider what sort of adjustments, if any, need to be made in patrols, security hardware, etc.
“Awareness of what’s happening in your community and preparedness is the key,” McKelvy said, “Having a knowledge of what’s happening and what can be done to ensure your safety and the safety of the community.”
McKelvy, said the overwhelming majority of these thefts were crimes of opportunity.
“When people become more relaxed in their daily activities, sometimes there are victims,” McKelvy said.
McKelvy added, “It is my feeling that these are professional criminals who prey on other universities as well.” Due to the ongoing nature of the investigations surrounding recent burglary cases, he could not go into details about any arrests that had been made, though he said DPS investigators are working with the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Department to solve some of the major cases.
“We don’t have a uniformed Public Safety officer at every corner,” McKelvy said. “What we have is a community that truly is the eyes and ears of our campus.”
Dr. Robert Chandler, chair of the Communication Division, said all faculty and students should not leave valuables unattended. A rash of computer and personal item thefts in the Center for Communication and Business continued Monday, Sept. 25th when cash was stolen from a professor’s closed office when she stepped down the hall for a few moments.
“In most cases, the people who are around our building are good, honest and decent folks who would never think to steal something that did not belong to them,” Chandler wrote in an e-mail. “However, there are exceptions, and it is prudent and due diligent to reduce the risk of a theft of one’s belongings.”
Associate Athletic Director David Rhoades echoed Chandler’s cautions, after the disappearance over the summer of more than $14,000 in Athletic equipment.
“Public Safety gave us some good tips on educating our people and updating our key codes,” Rhoades said.
10-05-2006