I am pretty enraged with UNC and CHPD for their lack of properly informing residents and students in the area. I live close by and had absolutely no notification about the incidents that occurred Friday morning, but luckily stumbled upon the story Friday evening on the WRAL website. Since this man is entering unlocked doors I don’t understand why the police couldn’t leave fliers or go door to door, at least on the streets where these break-ins happened, to let people know to make sure doors are locked. The DTH didn’t even publish a story on the incidents until late Friday, and it wasn’t even a top story. I bet if the women in the MIll Creek Apts. had known about the break-ins on Friday they would have been a lot more careful about locking their doors and/or would have reported it to police much sooner. Why is it OK for UNC to send out mass emails about a job interview for a new position but not to send one out to make sure all students are informed about these incidents? You would think with all the educated people around here, someone would care about the students safety, but apparently its not even close to the top of the list.

“I don’t understand why the police couldn’t leave fliers or go door to door, at least on the streets where these break-ins happened, to let people know to make sure doors are locked.”

We don’t like paying taxes to fund that. Hire your own security firm if you want that kind of personal attention.

Really, Outsider Observer? I guess people should just hire private security and if they can’t afford it I guess they deserve to be unsafe? That line of thinking is disturbing, and seems eerily similar to debunked libertarian nonsense. This is a serious matter, and worth looking into about the safety of those involved.

I completely agree with Avena. As a woman who herself lives in Mill Creek Apts., I wish I had gotten some kind of notification about this from somebody. I only found out because I happen to know one of the victims. This is a major failure of responsibility on the part of the DTH for not reporting these incidents sooner and one of the University for not prioritizing the safety of students. Shame on you both.

Anyone old enough to be in college is old enough to be responsible and lock their doors. While I agree that the University could send a blast email to keep students informed, please don’t blame the lack of police fliers on Mill Creek residents not locking their doors. take responsibility for your own safety and quit blaming.

Most people in the area are either attending college or have already earned a degree. UNC is one of the best colleges out there— you need to be pretty smart to attend, right?? So why are people so foolish as to go leaving their doors unlocked! Doors should be locked, regardless of whether someone broke into your neighbor’s house. Police shouldn’t waste time and tax payer money by posting flyers just because some people are too lazy to get up and lock a door. Why do people need a scary incident to motivate them to be safe??

The student who defended herself with a knife is totally awesome.

I hope I can be that brave if need be.

Why is it that every discussion in this country becomes about the public vs. the individual? Collectivism vs. individualism? Liberals vs. Conservatives? Maybe issues like this aren’t polar. My take, let’s focus education and taking care of children and troubled young people so that these crimes don’t happen in the first place, that’s the burden for all of us—individually as parents and collectively as a society. The two party system in this country sucks. Also it ruins just about every American internet discussion board I’ve ever read with partisan bickering. I’m looking at you “outside observer”, “Hmm” and “personal responsibility”

Agree with Robin about the student who defended herself with the knife though… Kudos to your courage!

The only people lacking in education here and those of you who place misguided blame on the victims for making a simple mistake we are all capable of. Sure we all know to lock your doors but that does NOT make it ok for someone to break in to your home, much less proceed to touch you in your sleep. Instead of judging the victims, keep in mind that this creep is still out there and may try to open your, or your sister’s, or your girlfriend’s, or your friends door one morning and next time it could very possibly be much much worse.

Both Avena and Cati must be one fry short of a Happy Meal when it comes to being informed on this issue. The DTH posted this story as breaking news on Friday AFTERNOON alerting students to the issue. It was updated as more information became available. Also, do you really believe that the police have the time and/or money to go around posting fliers to remind you to do something you should already do anyway? I know I don’t want my taxpayer dollars funding stupidity. Why do people always want someone to do something for them or to place the blame on someone else when clearly your lack of knowledge on this issue is no one’s fault but your own.