Breaking and Entering cases tripled between 2009 and 2010 on campus

From 2009 to 2010, the number of reported breaking and entering cases almost tripled on campus — an increase officials said is difficult to attribute to one source.

In 2009, 10 cases of breaking and entering were reported on campus. That number rose to 28 cases in 2010.

Randy Young, spokesman for the Department of Public Safety, said it is difficult to speculate whether this increase is isolated or part of an ongoing trend of burglaries.

Young said breaking and entering crimes are usually only reported when they are combined with larceny.

Young said the value of students’ smaller possessions has increased in the past five years, making them easier targets for theft.

“We live in an era of small packages,” Young said, adding that these small packages include laptops, iPads, iPods and cellphones.

While it depends on the nature of the crime, Young said reporting a crime has become easier in the last few years.

He cited the University’s See Something Say Something program that encourages students to report crime on campus if they witness it.
DPS communicates this message at new student orientation, as well as throughout the year at crime prevention programs, Young said.

Angela Carmon, an officer with DPS, said breaking and entering involves forced entry but not necessarily theft.

State law states that any person who wrongfully breaks or enters any building is guilty of a class one misdemeanor.

But if a person has intent to commit larceny, it is considered a felony, according to the law.

“There are a lot of things the University does to try to address this issue,” said Rick Bradley, assistant director of housing and residential education.

Bradley cited the safety program given at new student orientation and crime statistics being made public as two ways the University is addressing the issue of breaking and entering on UNC’s campus.

He said it’s difficult to know if the same people are committing the crimes that are being reported.

Bradley said the most effective way students can protect themselves from this type of crime is to lock their doors.

“Unfortunately, I think students often think they won’t be the victim of a crime,” Bradley said.

Mia Thompson, a freshman, said the new statistics are frightening.
“They will definitely make me more cautious,” Thompson said.

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