c/o Alexandra Turtil, Photo Editor

A car belonging to a University student was stolen from the W lot near High/Low Rise sometime between 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 4 and 12:35 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 5, according to a campus-wide email sent later that day by Director of Public Safety Scott Rohde.

The vehicle is not the first to be stolen from campus parking lots in the past year, with one car theft occurring in February and another last September. 

In his campus-wide email, Rohde listed a number of precautions students can take to protect their vehicles.

“Secure your vehicle by locking all doors and windows,” Rohde wrote. “Secure all valuables and keep them out of sight. Never leave your vehicle running and unattended. Report any suspicious activity to Public Safety promptly.”

The stolen vehicle in question was reported as being a recent model of a black Jeep Compass with a Michigan plate number CWG249. Rohde mentioned that the owner of the vehicle was not certain that they had locked it the night before and may have left a spare set of keys inside.

In an email to The Argus, Rohde explained that car thefts, while on the rise on campus and in Conn. over the past few years, are still not common occurrences. He also noted that cars left running and unattended are especially targeted for theft.

“If a car is discovered missing it should be reported immediately so that the information can be broadcast statewide to police agencies to be on the lookout for the vehicle,” Rohde wrote. “Public Safety assists the Middletown Police by checking all campus lots and parking areas as well as maintaining observation on streets that run through the campus community. Sometimes vehicles are only taken a short distance and abandoned. Occasionally students or staff members forget that they move their car and by us checking the lots we can quickly locate the vehicle if it was not actually stolen.”

Rohde also emphasized that parking in University-owned lots does not put students at an increased risk for car thefts compared to parking in any other public parking area.

“Car thieves also assume that drivers may leave a spare vehicle key or fob in the glove box or under the seat, so [doing so] is not recommended,” Rohde wrote. “It is better to keep a spare safely in your residence.”

Rohde reiterated the importance of registering one’s vehicle with Public Safety, as it makes it easier to track, should any problems arise. Students with any relevant information should call Public Safety at 860-685-2345.

Rachel Wachman can be reached at rwachman@wesleyan.edu.