Crime Alerts

#2004-4

October 15, 2004

Burglaries in Cathedral Mansions

It has been reported to University Police that on Oct. 8th and Oct. 14th, items including laptop computers, an i-pod, and CD players were stolen from two separate apartments on the sixth and seventh floors in Cathedral Mansions Apartments. One burglary probably occurred between 5:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., the other between 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. the next day. 

University Police are also aware that on Oct. 5th, person(s) unknown may have twice attempted to gain entry to a fourth floor room, once at 1:00 a.m. and again at approximately 7:00 a.m. 

Police are currently viewing CCTV system tapes to identify possible suspects in these incidents

While most students feel relatively secure in their residence halls, these crimes illustrate that an increased level of caution is warranted by every student living in official off-campus housing. Most frustrating to University Police from a crime prevention perspective was the common contributing factor in both burglaries – the apartments had been left unsecured/unlocked by the residents.

University Police do their best to patrol the exterior of and streets surrounding off-campus housing. However, every student must partner with University Police and participate in his/her own security and that of expensive and costly to replace personal property. Talk to your roommates and other residents on your floor – ask them to practice the following measures to prevent their rooms from being invaded by thieves who roam about Oakland to commit "crimes of opportunity," such as the burglary of an open, unsecured, unlocked building, room, or apartment.

Crime Prevention Tips

• If you see a stranger sitting or loitering anywhere in or outside your building, go to the nearest phone or borrow someone's cell phone to CALL UNIVERSITY POLICE IMMEDIATELY!! Try to give the police dispatcher as detailed a physical description of the trespasser and his/her clothing as possible.
• While your residence hall is your "home away from home" and you want to feel comfortable to treat it like your house or apartment back home, it's better to treat it - and every room within it - like a hotel/motel. Surely no one staying in a strange city ever leaves his hotel or motel room unlocked when he leaves. KEEP YOUR ROOM DOORS LOCKED AT ALL TIMES!!
•  Lock/engage the deadbolt lock on your door, even when you’re inside the room but otherwise preoccupied (e.g., while taking a shower).
• Never prop open the doors to your residence hall or allow people to draft in behind you!
• Don't leave cash on top of a dresser or desk when you leave your room. Burglars look for what they can grab quickly and easily without having to open drawers or closets so they can get in and out within a minute.

Please partner with University Police to make university housing
and the entire campus a safer place for all.