Mia Ruhoff
Staff Reporter
Vehicle thefts, prowls and break-ins continue to be a regular occurrence across campus. According to the 2021 PLU Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, there were 14 incidents of reported vehicle theft on campus and 9 on immediate public property. The 2022 report is not out yet, but the problem remains prominent in students’ minds. Many students are questioning the current campus safety policy and its effectiveness.
“Clearly it’s not being solved, because cars keep on getting stolen,” freshman Eric Pommer said. Pommer’s car was stolen within the first few weeks of fall semester. Pommer went on to say PLU needs to start investing in “more security cameras, better gates—just making it more difficult for people to steal.”
“Would you trust the stability of these parking lots to house your property or your children’s property? And if the answer is anywhere near no, then something’s wrong, and some reform needs to be done,” Pommer said.
In addition to effectiveness, students also brought up concerns over transparency and communication. “I feel like all of us don’t really know what their priority is,” senior Jakob Pyeatt said. Pyeatt’s car was stolen last year.
Sophomore Bautista-Buys also had issues with campus safety last year. This year he has not had any more, apart from noticing instances of theft and vandalism around campus. “If we knew what campus safety was focused on […] it’d make people not only feel better, but it would make people fight [for parking lot improvements],” said Bautista-Buys. Increased transparency between campus safety and students can help students advocate for changes they want to see.
“We see it, that it is an issue, and we hear everybody. I mean everybody’s frustrated, including myself, right?” said campus safety director José Curiel Morelos when asked what message he wanted to send to students. He said that campus safety is aware of student concerns and working to address them. Patrols have been modified to focus more on the residential lots at night. These changes are based on patterns of where the patrol effects were occurring and where the vehicle problems were happening.
In doing so, campus safety has been able to “kind of curve” the rate of vehicle crimes. “We don’t get as many car thefts. We still get vehicle prowls,” Morelos said.
According to data Director Morelos provided, while the amount of vehicle prowls between September and October did not change significantly (19 to 20), the amount of vehicle thefts decreased. There were eight reported instances of vehicle theft in September, and three in October.
On the issue of infrastructure, Director Morelos stated that proposals have been sent to start the process. The current aim is adding gates and “beefing up” camera systems, with a focus on residential lots.
Morelos said that due to funding and supply chain issues, maintenance and security updates will take time to put into place. There can be no immediate change. Fast or slow, both students and Director Morelos alike agree change is necessary.
