At least three houses in the University Park neighborhood have reported break-ins and robberies since fall break.
(Brian Brenize -- The Beacon)
By Laura Frazier, Staff Writer -- frazier13@up.edu
About two weeks ago, junior Alissa Tseu heard a rustling while she was watching a movie at home with one of her roommates, but didn't think much of it.
When another roommate returned to the house around 10:30 p.m. and found her bedroom window open and her laptop missing, Tseu realized that her house was burglarized while she was home.
Unfortunately, her story is not unique – at least three houses inhabited by UP students in the University Park area have reported break-ins and theft since fall break.
Tseu, whose house is on North Van Houten Avenue, was surprised that someone had managed to break in while she and her roommate were home.
It was an unnerving experience for both, she said.
"It was kind of an unusual break-in," she said. "We were pretty freaked out. It was scary."
Fortunately, the only damage was to the basement bedroom window and the only thing stolen was the laptop.
Tseu reported the theft to the Portland Police Bureau, who came to the house and dusted for prints, though they did not find any substantial evidence.
Tseu is still comfortable living in her neighborhood, but is aware that students need to put in the effort to be safe by checking that doors and windows are locked when no one is home.
"I still feel safe, it's just a matter of extra precautions," she said. "Sometimes we get a little lazy."
Senior Andrew Fredericks, who lives on North Harvard Street, had his house broken into while it was unoccupied over fall break.
The criminals broke in through the bathroom window and stole a television, routers, an Xbox 360 game system, a guitar, amplifiers and a computer. They also broke down the doors to the bedrooms and stole jewelry and clothes.
"They robbed us clean," Fredericks said. "They took everything."
Fredericks has been checking the local listings on Craigslist, just in case any of the stolen items turn up.
One of his housemates called PPB to report the incident. The officers found fingerprints on the windowsill, but Fredericks is not convinced that the police will catch the criminals.
"It's what I expected. There's not a whole lot they can do," he said. "Unless those prints come up on a database, it's a needle in a haystack."
One of Fredericks' housemates reported the incident to Public Safety.
Public Safety Director Harold Burke-Sivers evaluated the security of the house and suggested they take basic precautions such as closing the blinds when no one is home.
During fall break, sophomore Chae Maples, who lives by North Lombard Street on North Portsmouth Street., was returning home when he saw a man in his mid-30s trying to climb into his house through a window. The man ran off when he saw Maples.
Maples went inside to find that his house had indeed been broken into, and he believes it was by the man he saw near the window.
The criminal came in through a side window and stole a laptop, iPod, about $300 in cash, pain medications and an Xbox.
Maples called PPB, and the officers filed a report and suggested installing exterior lights around the house to deter criminals.
Sophomore Preston Longoni, who also lives in the house, thinks the break-in was strategically planned.
"I feel like they knew we were on fall break and that students live here," he said. "But I am not too worried about it if we are all here."
PPB Officer Dennis Mako said it's possible that thieves are aware of where students are living and plan burglaries with that in mind.
"There are a lot of students that rent houses over there," he said. "It's entirely possible."
Burke-Sivers thinks that the economy is partially responsible for the recent increase of crimes.
"Crime happens everywhere, but particularly when we see an economic downturn," he said. "It's not unusual, but it's something we expect to decrease as things improve and as we work with Portland Police as well."
Mako explained that burglaries sometimes follow a pattern.
"It seems like burglaries go in spurts," he said. "You get a whole bunch then someone gets caught and they drop down to nothing."
Though many break-ins occur while no one is home, Burke-Sivers believes that some thieves take advantage of college parties by wandering in, pretending to be invited, but then steal things.
Senior Kyle Herzog was hosting a party last weekend when a man he did not recognize tried to steal alcohol from his kitchen. A friend began chasing after the man and he dropped the items.
The man did return to the party.
"I was just like ‘Dude, you tried stealing stuff, get out of the house,'" Herzog said.
Herzog did not know if the man was a UP student.
Burke-Sivers says it is unknown if the recent crimes are linked.
"It's not necessarily the same group, but it could be related as in they know each other," he said.
Angela Wagnon, North Portland Crime Prevention Coordinator, thinks it is possible that the break-ins are related.
"It's not uncommon for a few people to be responsible for multiple car prowls and thefts," she said.
Wagnon's job is to educate people about how to protect themselves from crime, but she leaves the investigation up to police.
"They work very hard to find suspects and follow leads, and they have been successful," she said. "When there are cases like this, they work very hard."
