Burglaries on the rise in the residence halls

The number of reported burglaries at the University of South Dakota has risen over the past three years according to the 2012 Clery Report released by the University Police Department.

Signs reminding students of the penalty of thefts were posted on the first floor of Richardson Hall following reports of thefts from rooms.

Chelsea Kappenman, a sophomore who lives on the first floor of Richardson Hall came home the first weekend in November to find items missing from her dorm room.

“My roommate texted me that she left the room unlocked for a half hour,” Kappenman said.

The two girls noticed $5 and a “Lord of the Rings” DVD, which was located inside of the desk drawer, missing.

Kappenman no longer washes her laundry on her floor because she does not trust it to not get stolen, she said.

“I plan on taking my valuables home or keeping them in my backpack,” Kappenman said.

Sophomore Andrew Bruns, who also lives on the first floor of Richardson Hall, said he was instructed to keep his door shut and locked.

“Girls are going to the shower and coming back to find that their stuff is gone or has been moved,” sophomore Austin Meier said.
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“One girl’s wallet was moved and her money was missing.”

Sophomore Dessie Westall said she was the one who informed the Community Advisors about the burglaries.

“I thought it might stop them,” Westall said.

Soon afterward the fliers were placed on the floor.

Since 2009, there have been 12 burglaries reported to UPD. Eight of those have occurred in residence halls.

“I feel like our deadbolts are heavy enough,” first-year student Jenny Calvert said. “I trust people, but if people want to break into my room, they could.”

Near the beginning of the semester, one of the locks to enter her floor in North Complex was not working.

“I really didn’t like it,” Calvert said. “We would get random people walking onto our floor. They would be drunk and come onto our floor not knowing what they were doing. I didn’t feel very safe.”

Other first-year students such as Liz Pekas feel more confident about the security of not only their rooms, but themselves. Pekas said that since she locks the door to her dorm room, the only way she could experience a burglary would be if the burglar used equipment to break in.

Students in other residence halls have experienced the same frustrations of those living in North Complex.

“Someone opened my door,” said sophomore Jake Jungers, who lives in Coyote Village. “I think it’s safer here (than North Complex) because we have more cameras.”

First-year student Brady Knodel lives in Coyote Village but said he likes how there are front desks at both ends of North Complex. While he hasn’t had unknown visitors enter his room, his friends often come in unannounced, he said.

“I get freaked out when my friends just walk in,” Knodel said.

After reminders, most students find common sense to be the most effective tool against unwanted guests in their rooms.

“Lock your door,” Westall said. “It is really easy to get onto our floor because we are on the first floor.”