Hilbert students recently received a campus safety alert email about potential car break ins.

In spring, as the weather gets warmer, there is a rise in property crime. The email goes into detail about what the criminals might be after and ways to reduce the chance your car is targeted.

How to prevent and deter a break in:

1. Always lock your doors and roll up your windows when you park.
2. Know where you’re going and plan routes that avoid high crime areas whenever possible
3. Park in well-lit areas
4. Never leave your car unattended if it’s running
5. Activate your security system if you have one.
6. Use after-market measures, like mechanisms that lock the steering wheel to protect your car and alert thieves that you’ve taken extra security measures.
7. Don’t use the console or glove box as mobile lock boxes. These are obvious to thieves, too.
8. Don’t hand them the keys

What they might be after:

1. Phone
2. Purse or wallet
3. Laptop (or its bag)
4. A briefcase or backpack
5. Shopping bags
6. An MP3 player or other small electronics
7. Cash – yes, even loose change/coins
8. Your keys – it actually happens!

Director of Campus Safety Vito Czyz said that while the Hilbert Campus does not see property crimes like this often, it’s worth keeping these precautions in mind.

“Since my arrival here in Fall of 2017, I have not investigated any forced entry vehicle break ins. There has been reported thefts from vehicles that were either attributed to the vehicle being left open or someone having used a key,” Czyz said.

Last year there were no cars stolen, no car break ins and only a few items found missing from cars on campus, according to figures provided by Czyz.

The college is planning to invest in new cameras for the parking lots to help prevent theft and other crimes, he added.