Department of Campus Safety (DCS) officers are cautioning students to be aware of what they leave in their vehicles after a car break-in occurred on campus in the early morning hours of Jan. 2.

The break in, which occurred in Lot U behind the Ritchie Center near the University-owned apartments, involved the thief trying the handles of several vehicles before breaking a window out of the victim’s car and proceeding to steal large packs of soda. In this case, the thief was able to escape unidentified.

While DU’s rates of theft from motor vehicles is relatively low, with only six incidents reported in 2012 and eight reported in 2011, the crime is very prevalent in the areas surrounding campus, according to Crime Prevention Sgt. Stephen Banet. Banet said that the Washington Park area is especially prone not only to car burglaries, but other crimes as well.

“If you live or run or walk near Wash Park, you’ve really got to be careful,” Banet said.

Banet attributes the relatively low rate of vehicle-related crimes on campus to the efforts of DCS, which he says puts particular emphasis on preventing the crime. Officers on duty will often look inside cars while on their patrols to see if there are any “attractions,” or items that a thief might want to steal, and contact the owners of cars that have those items in plain sight to warn them of the dangers of car burglaries.

Banet says that students should be aware of what they leave in their cars. Smartphones, laptops, wallets, purses, GPS units and backpacks (which could contain any of these in the mind of a thief) are all items that invite burglary if left in plain sight in a vehicle.

“Theft is something that students need to protect themselves from,” Banet said. “They need to take a critical look at their car when they park on campus,or anywhere, really.”

According to Banet, many of the car burglaries that occurred on campus over the past two years could have also been avoided if the owners of the vehicles had rolled their windows up and locked their doors. Just like the thief did during the crime on Jan. 2, thieves often go through parking lots trying car doors. When they find a door that is unlocked or a window that is not rolled up, they can take anything in the car easily and with no damage to the car.

Some of the same methods can be used to prevent theft of personal items outside of vehicles as well.

“Theft is the most reported crime on campus,” said Banet. “Just don’t leave your items unattended. Keep track of your personal property.”