According to CNN, there are about 1.85 million vehicle break-ins every year. Within the last two months, seven car break-ins on NSU’s main campus have been reported to Public Safety.
Davie Police Department Officer Keith Rubin said, “Car break-ins are a major problem in the town of Davie, its surrounding area, and all over the state of Florida. It is a trend happening everywhere.”
Three break-ins occurred in the Doctors Hospital Miami Dolphins Training Facility parking lot, three in the gravel lot on S.W. 36th Street and one on Perimeter Road near Leo Goodwin Sr. Residence Hall.
Some of the things taken were purses and backpacks.
Rubin said, “Value is in the eye of the beholder. What may seem insignificant to you may seem extremely valuable to a car thief. They will do hundreds of dollars worth of property damage for five dollars worth of property.”
In Davie, the most common point of entry for car break-ins is an unlocked car door. On campus, thieves have broken into windows. Even though the Public Safety Security Operations Center monitors more than 1,000 surveillance cameras, Rubin said that car break-ins are still a tough crime to solve, as the film may not show license plate numbers nor a clear view of the suspect.
Yet, Rubin said that anyone can take simple measures to decrease their chances of car theft. Here are some tips to make sure you and your property are secure.
Lock your car doors
“It seems like common sense, but people don’t lock their car doors,” said, Rubin.
According to Florida Department of Law Enforcement, up to a quarter of vehicle thefts are from unlocked cars. Even leaving your car for just a minute or two is too long to leave your car unlocked and your possessions unprotected. Simply locking the doors will deter anyone who might just be waiting around for an easy target.
Conceal valuables
“I tell people put your junk in the trunk but do it before you arrive at your destination,” said Rubin.
Do not leave any bait for thieves. You have to be smart and either leave valuables at home or take them with you when you leave your car. Leaving things in plain view can pique thieves’ interest.
Stash valuables before parking
“Not so much on campus, but in shopping centers, thieves know you are not going to take certain valuables with you. They know you are going to leave them behind and those are the vehicles they are going to break into,” said Rubin.
According to the National Crime Bureau, thieves sometimes linger in busy parking lots looking for valuables that are being moved out of sight. Get in the habit of putting valuables in the trunk before heading to your destination.
How you can help
“NSU is a safe environment and for the amount of traffic of students, visitors, and vendors, we have a relatively small amount of car break-ins, especially compared with other institutions. The biggest thing is that police and [the Office of] Public Safety needs everyone’s help to stop these crimes,” said Rubin.
If you see any suspicious activity on campus, call Public Safety at 954-262-8999.
