University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Published: March 6, 2008

By SUE WUETCHER
Reporter Editor

University Police is continuing the momentum of its hugely successful campaign to increase South Campus drivers’ awareness of their vulnerability to automobile break-ins by expanding the program to the North Campus.

Starting on March 17, when classes resume after spring break, university police officers will be out in force on the North Campus, while continuing their efforts on the South Campus. The objective of the University Police Vehicle Burglary Initiative 2008, developed by Wayne Colton, community liaison officer, is to reduce the instances of auto burglary at UB through the use of signs, brochures, public service announcements, stepped up patrols and a vehicle burglary report card.

Vehicle break-ins are on the rise nationwide, largely due to the proliferation of electronic devices such as iPods and GPS units, Colton says, noting that UB has not been spared this trend, with 27 vehicle burglaries recorded on the South Campus in 2007—a sharp increase over the past few years.

As part of the vehicle break-in initiative, University Police distributed almost 4,000 vehicle-burglary report cards to staff and student vehicles parked in South Campus lots in January. Vehicles were graded based on whether conditions that could lead to a break-in were observed, such as property left in plain view, keys left in the vehicle, a window left open or other unsafe conditions. Those drivers who received a failing grade received a follow-up email message.

University Police also erected “safety alert” signs in several key locations on the South Campus that urge drivers not to leave valuables in plain sight in their cars and to be vigilant for suspicious activity in and around campus parking lots. The signs also provide the telephone number for University Police—645-2222—and direct individuals to use any Blue Light Phone to contact University Police.

Colton notes that no vehicle break-ins have been reported at UB so far this year, while other jurisdictions are seeing a spike.

“We are declaring Phase I a success,” he says. “We are keeping up the momentum by doing a reinforcing blitz on the South Campus during the week of March 17, then moving to the North Campus.”

During this second phase of the initiative, Colton says University Police plan to distribute as many as 8,000 vehicle burglary report cards to motorists on both campuses, while at the same time increasing police visibility. Safety alert signs also will be erected at key locations on the North Campus, and new ways “to get the word out” will be explored, including using the scrolling marquee sign outside the Student Union on the North Campus, he says.

“We have no illusion about eliminating crime altogether,” Colton says. “It [vehicle break-ins] will inevitably happen here again. However, every GPS unit that is not left on display in a vehicle is one crime that will not happen.

“Auto-burglary prevention, like all crime prevention, involves limiting the criminal’s ability and/or opportunity to commit the crime,” he says. “With very little time and effort, citizens can make a huge difference in their vulnerability.

“Vehicle burglary is a quality-of-life crime that has the potential to affect us all,” he notes. “The key to crime prevention is education and community partnership.”