Crime prevention message regarding motor vehicle break-ins

The following message was emailed to students, faculty and staff on January 23 by Communications and External Relations:

Following two vehicle break-ins early in the spring semester, the University Police Department is again urging students, faculty and staff to lock their vehicles on and near campus to help prevent break-ins.

The University Police Department is continuing to take steps to address vehicle break-ins, but officers ask that campus community members assist in the effort by making it a habit to lock vehicles.

Police say the newest break-ins are identical to those occurring last semester on and at nearby off-campus locations.  Thieves entered unlocked vehicles and stole whatever they found of value.  In nearly every instance, the vehicles were owned by students.

The January break-ins took place at two University-owned houses on University Parkway, directly across from campus.  Both were reported on Jan. 19.  In each case, someone entered an unlocked student’s vehicle.  $10 was taken from one vehicle, nothing from the other.

Wake Forest first announced a surge in vehicle break-ins in early November; soon afterward, another spike in such incidents prompted a second message to the campus community.

In response, Wake Forest and Winston-Salem officers increased patrols of parking lots on campus and at off-campus properties used by the University.  Other steps have included increasing the hours of security officers working in the Student Drive parking lot.

University officers continue consulting with Winston-Salem police and collecting information about similar break-ins taking place near the University and elsewhere in the city.

The University Police Department encourages students, faculty and staff to promptly report suspicious activity they may observe on and off campus.  The University Police Department can be reached at 336-758-5911 (emergency) or 336-758-5591 (non-emergency), through the LiveSafe app or online.  The department is located in Alumni Hall.  With immediate concerns, all are encouraged to call the emergency number.

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