Police: Theft from autos rising

There has been a definite increase in thefts from automobiles parked on the eastern end of campus this semester, according to police officials.

While it is not unusual for thefts from autos to fluctuate up and down during a school year, there have been 32 independently-reported incidents since Jan. 1 between the 3100 and 3400 blocks of the streets running through Penn's campus.

Only one vehicle has actually been stolen, though, since Jan. 1, in an incident reported last weekend.

"It's not an ungodly number," Deputy Chief of Investigations, William Danks said of the amount of thefts from auto. "But it is a spike."

The number of thefts remains below what it was during this time in the mid-to-late 1990s, when all campus crime statistics were higher.

And on the western end of campus, there have been virtually no thefts from automobiles this semester.

Police officials say they noticed the increase right away and have been attacking the problem aggressively for the past two weeks with special patrols and special details.

And though officials do not want to name exactly what measures they have put in place to thwart the thieves, Danks was quick to note that "he would be surprised if they didn't begin to taper off sometime this week."

The areas that have been targeted include the parking garage at the Penn Tower Hotel, the parking lots surrounding the Levy Tennis Pavilions and Lot 33, located underneath Walnut and Chestnut streets.

Thefts have occurred during both day and night hours.

Officials said they do not believe any of these lots are guarded by security officers and have confirmed that Lot 33 can be easily entered and exited without passing through a check-point, such as the one located in the newly constructed lot above the Freshgrocer at 40th and Walnut streets.

The incidents that occurred furthest west were in the parking lot of the Sheraton University City Hotel, which is also easily accessed.

Last year, thefts from auto decreased after police made several arrests, one of an individual with three prior arrests for similar crimes. Officials are hoping the same will be true after arrests are made in the coming weeks.

One individual taken into custody last year admitted to police he had been committing two to three thefts from auto each day, according to Danks.

The investigation has, in fact, been narrowed down quite significantly.

"We know we are looking for a particular suspect in a particular truck," Danks said.

Police would also like to make clear that of the 32 incidents thus far, only two of the cars were broken into to retrieve stereo equipment or other dashboard paraphernalia. All of the other break-ins were prompted by items left in plain-view of passersby.

"These guys are going in, and they ride around until they see a car with some good stuff in it," Danks said. "These aren't auto thieves. They want CDs, briefcases, backpacks or anything they see in the car."

In attempts to warn the public about leaving their personal items in plain view, police have begun posting signs in the affected areas and placing pamphlets on parked cars, encouraging drivers to secure their things.

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