U. bars window protection for stores in its buildings

The owners of Fiesta Jr. Pizza thought they had the answer. After a rash of burglaries, Fiesta's owners installed a metal grid on the inside of their windows, hoping to discourage would-be burglars. "The situation was very bad," Fiesta Manager Theodora Karros said. "We lost count [of the number of break-ins]." Since the $600 cage was installed two months ago, there haven't been any problems. Until now. This week the University, which owns the strip of stores and restaurants on 38th Street between Walnut Street and Locust Walk, informed Fiesta's owners that the cage does not meet University regulations. The University insists that security fences or metal roll-down windows must be inside the restaurant and must only be visible when it is closed, Real Estate Project Manager Helen Walker said yesterday. Fiesta's grid meets the first requirement, but not the second. "We don't want to create an unfriendly look," Walker said. And Fiesta Owner Nick Mitoulis, much to his dismay, must alter his window protection to fit the University's standards. Poor Richard's Owner Vinesh Vyas, had similar problems with break-ins this summer. Vyas placed a chain-link fence inside the window of the take-out delicatessen after his insurance company threatened to drop his policy. But the fence is visible during the day, and therefore prohibited. Vyas, who also owns Kelly and Cohen restaurant, said he is working on a new security plan. Managers of other stores along the strip said that they do not have the same problem with robberies as the eateries. Lewis Boynton, manager of Campus Copy Center on 38th and Walnut Streets, said that the store's windows have been broken, he is not concerned about robbery. "The machines are too heavy to carry out," Boynton said. Lee's Hoagie House on Walnut Street, also a victim of robberies this summer, has begun using pull-down metal windows to protect the store at night.

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