During the past seven weeks LSUPD has reported 85 cases of car burglaries or items stolen off cars.
LSUPD Cpt. Mark Shaw said the department is working to capture those responsible for the burglaries.
Shaw said police suspect the spike in burglaries is the result of a few individuals. Most burglaries are the result of four individuals arrested in the past month, Shaw said.
As trends in burglaries become apparent, officers are placed on patrol and on plainclothes detail to survey an area, Shaw said.
LSUPD identified 35 different areas burglarized on campus, such as parking lots and outlying areas. Police mainly focus on areas where two or more burglaries have occurred.
One such incident occurred Nov. 8. Police arrested Josh Woods, 37, on charges of aggravated battery, simple battery, potential exposure to the AIDS virus, remaining after forbidden from campus, simple criminal damage to property, possession of burglary tools and simple burglary of motor vehicle.
Shaw said Woods allegedly attempted to break into a car in the Baptist Collegiate Ministry parking lot. Citizens at the BCM heard the car’s alarm sound and discovered Woods. The citizens were able to detain the individual until LSUPD arrived, Shaw said. An accomplice allegedly sped away in a small car. BCM surveillance cameras caught the incident on tape, Shaw said.
As citizens detained him and waited for police, the individual allegedly threatened one person detaining him by saying he had the AIDS virus and would bite him. He also allegedly threatened another person with a screwdriver.
Shaw said Woods is a convinced felon and was released from the state penitentiary in the past eight months.
Police booked Woods into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on the above charges.
Shaw said citizen involvement is a useful tool to police. Citizens are more apt to know when something is out of place and can alert police.
“[These investigations] require citizen involvement,” Shaw said. “Two of three arrests [in the past month] were made because of citizens. There are a lot more regular people in a place to see things.”
Will LaFleur, a computer engineering sophomore, had a friend whose car was burglarized. He said he is nervous about leaving his car on campus.
LaFleur said crime has gotten progressively worse because people are careless.
Despite LSUPD’s increased security around campus, LaFleur said he has not seen an increase in police concern.
“They are probably concerned about it but not as much as the murder rate,” LaFleur said.
Krishelle Scioneaux, a psychology senior, said people and police should take more precautions in their daily lives to prevent car robberies.
“There needs to be more random drive-by patrols by cops,” Scioneaux said. “People also should learn to always lock their doors.”
Shaw encouraged students to avoid break-ins by not leaving valuables in plain sight. He also suggested investing in a fake face plate or detachable face CD player.
Students also should get serial numbers of all their property or label it with some identifiable mark.
“Pawn shops are reluctant to buy back items [with these markings],” Shaw said.
Though Facility Services locks all building doors at night, students tend to prop open doors for their own convenience, Shaw said.
“If someone notices something suspicious, they shouldn’t hesitate to call,” Shaw said. “We encourage all people to be our eyes and ears.”
Victims should report any burglary, so police can target resources to their areas, Shaw said.
“People need to pay attention to things going on around them,” Shaw said. “If [someone] notices something suspicious, they should call. [On a cell phone] #578 is a free call to LSUPD.”